Liverpool Marc Guehi hopes may be ‘shattered’ amid shock update as Man United 'concerned' over transfer snub
Some of the latest Premier League transfer rumours as club start to make plans for the January window.
The transfer window may be closed for the year but there are still plenty of Premier League rumours to dissect as we look ahead to January.
We have already been treated to plenty of drama and excitement in these early stages of the 2025/26 season as clubs bed in their new signings. We can expect to see more deals discussed between now and the January window too, with both New Year and summer business on the radar.
Marc Guehi changes stance on Liverpool transfer
As if Liverpool didn’t have enough twists and turns in their summer transfer window, the surprises are still coming in the cooling off period.
The Reds were due to cap off their big summer spending with the signing of Marc Guehi but an 11th hour collapse in talks saw him remain at Crystal Palace.
Having agreed personal terms and a transfer fee, and with a medical booked, the defender has still been backed to join Liverpool in 2026. However, a huge twist could see the Reds snubbed of a transfer completely.
According to The Mirror, Guehi has now told his advisors that ‘his heart is set’ on a move to Real Madrid, rather than Liverpool. The report claims that the Reds’ hopes of a deal in either January or next summer are ‘poised to be shattered’, as Los Blancos are preparing to enter negotiations.
The ball is now firmly in Guehi’s court. If Palace do not accept any offers in January, he is free to join whoever he wants at the end of the season as a free agent.
The 3AM Verdict: Real Madrid continue to serve as a thorn in Liverpool’s side. If they aren’t trying to poach players from Anfield, they’re working on snubbing them of their transfer targets. Signing Guehi is a huge focus for the Reds as Ibrahima Konate’s future remains uncertain. If the Frenchman leaves the club - who is funnily enough heavily linked with Madrid - they could also be denied their first choice replacement option.
Man United concerned they could lose out on signing key target
As well as their defence, Liverpool are also working on bolstering their midfield and are reportedly rivalling Manchester United for one of their leading transfer targets.
According to TEAMtalk, the Premier League champions ‘could rival’ their opponents for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils had attempted to sign him during the summer but were unsuccessful and he is not expected to come cheap if they do revisit the table.
“The concern is that Liverpool’s admiration could turn into something more concrete,” transfer insider Dean Jones told the outlet.
“They’ve already shown this year they’re not afraid to splash out big money on the right player, and if they decided to push for Baleba, United would suddenly find themselves in an unwanted situation. No one wants to go head-to-head with Liverpool – on or off the pitch.”
The 3AM Verdict: Brighton are reluctant to let Baleba leave but clubs continue to monitor his situation. As shown with the former British record deal for Moises Caicedo, the Seagulls are no strangers to demanding big money for their key players. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are all solid options for Liverpool, so they may want to avoid spending another huge fee on a midfielder, which could put the ball back in United’s court.