Liverpool’s Market Maneuvers: From Guehi’s Collapsed Deal to the Mega-Pursuit of Olise

Marc Guehi thought he was heading to Anfield. The medical was wrapped up, the paperwork was waiting, and a deadline-day switch to Liverpool last summer was effectively a done deal. Then, at the absolute eleventh hour, Crystal Palace pulled the plug. For the first time, the England international has opened up about the stunning collapse of that transfer, contrasting his own professional reaction with Liverpool’s current, frantic search for new firepower in the Bundesliga.

Professionalism Over Protests
When Palace abruptly halted the transfer, Guehi had every reason to be furious. We have seen players force their way out of similar situations before, notably when Alexander Isak went on strike to push through his record-breaking move from Newcastle to Merseyside. Guehi, however, took an entirely different route. Acknowledging that Palace gave him a massive opportunity, he felt that acting out would be a severe disservice to the club.

“My mindset is always move on to the next one,” Guehi explained. Refusing to criticize others for how they handle their careers, he simply noted that his priority was repaying his current team. “The least I could do was show up to work every single day, shut my mouth and keep my head down.”

That patience ultimately paid off. By January, Manchester City came knocking. Palace could hardly stand in his way this time around, and Guehi signed a five-and-a-half-year contract to join Pep Guardiola’s squad. Looking back, he says he is just glad to finally get a transfer over the line, calling the Etihad the perfect place to grow as a player.

Immediate Impact in Manchester
City desperately needed the reinforcement. They have been battered by injuries across the backline, missing Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones. Guardiola recently admitted Gvardiol is sidelined for a long time, while Stones is dealing with a severe thigh issue that could keep him out for months. In a rather cruel twist of fate, it was actually Stones—whose contract expires at the end of the season—who helped convince the former Palace captain to join City, potentially accelerating his own exit from the club.

Guehi didn’t waste any time making his mark. He helped secure a clean sheet in a vital 2-0 victory over a Wolverhampton side that had been riding a five-game unbeaten streak. It was City’s first league win of the year following a rough patch of draws against Sunderland, Chelsea, and Brighton, compounded by a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. More importantly, the win kept Guardiola’s men within striking distance of league leaders Arsenal, trailing by just four points after the Gunners slipped up in a 3-2 loss to United on Sunday.

Pivoting the Anfield Rebuild
While Liverpool missed out on bolstering their defense with Guehi, their front office is now working overtime to secure the future of their attack. The looming departure of Mohamed Salah, who is expected to leave a massive void after the 2025/26 season, has triggered an aggressive search for a successor. At the very top of their wishlist sits Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.

Transfer insider Mark Brus from Caught Offside reports that Liverpool’s brass is pushing exceptionally hard for the young French star. The reality, though, is that Bayern is digging its heels in. Officials at Säbener Straße have repeatedly made it clear they have absolutely zero intention of selling their attacking centerpiece.

An Astronomical Price Tag
Despite the firm pushback out of Bavaria, Liverpool remains quietly confident. According to Brus, the Reds firmly believe they can eventually tempt Olise back to the Premier League, regardless of Bayern’s current public stance.

Prying him away from Germany will not be cheap. Getting Bayern to even consider a conversation would require an absolutely crazy amount of cash. That poses a massive financial hurdle for Liverpool, especially considering the club already unloaded around €500 million on new signings last summer. Pushing through another blockbuster deal of this magnitude would likely require offloading some current players first to balance the books. With the post-Salah era rapidly approaching, Liverpool seems fully prepared to test Bayern’s resolve in the coming weeks.