😮 HOLDING OUT! Liverpool’s defensive upgrade on ice as target cools talks over £45m switch

🚨 TRANSFER TWIST: Liverpool’s £45m swoop in jeopardy as Slot’s top target signals he’s staying put! 😮

Liverpool’s plans to bolster their defence this summer may face a serious setback, as one of their prime targets is in no hurry to make a move.

Per The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi is open to running down the final year of his contract if a suitable opportunity doesn’t come along. The 24-year-old, instrumental in Palace’s FA Cup victory, has reportedly ruled out a contract extension — meaning he’s up for grabs this summer, but strictly on his own terms.

That complicates things for Liverpool, who have earmarked Guehi as a possible replacement for Jarell Quansah, with the young defender set for a £30m switch to Bayer Leverkusen.

With Quansah’s departure leaving a significant gap in a title-winning squad — having featured 25 times last season — Liverpool are in urgent need of defensive reinforcements.

Guehi wants guaranteed game time — and he’s not rushing his next move.

The ex-Chelsea defender is determined to secure regular game time next season as he looks to cement his spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

While a move to Liverpool would offer the appeal of working under Arne Slot and chasing silverware, consistent starts might not be immediately guaranteed, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté still seen as the first-choice centre-back duo.

Van Dijk recently signed a new deal and remains a commanding presence at 33, while Konaté — entering the final year of his contract — has struggled with injuries, potentially opening the door for squad rotation. That’s likely a key factor for Guehi as he weighs his next move.

Liverpool have already added Florian Wirtz to the squad this summer and could soon shift focus to shoring up their defence, especially given Joe Gomez’s injury record and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Konaté’s future.

Still, The Guardian makes it clear that Guehi “won’t be rushed” into any decision. He’s open to running down his Palace contract, which could see him walk away on a free next summer or sign a pre-contract with a club abroad as early as January.

That possibility might push Palace to reconsider their £45m asking price. As Liverpool monitor the situation, the big question remains: will the pull of joining the Premier League champions outweigh the promise of regular minutes elsewhere?