Liverpool’s Guehi Move Could Derail Manchester United’s Midfield Plans
The Premier League transfer market is once again in full storm, and this time the turbulence has pulled Manchester United, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace into an unexpected three-way tangle. What looked like a straightforward midfield hunt for United has turned into a complicated chain reaction involving Marc Guehi, Harvey Elliott, and Adam Wharton — with Liverpool’s manoeuvres threatening to wreck United’s plans.
United, under new manager Rúben Amorim, have rebuilt their attack with the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. The focus has now shifted to midfield, where United’s initial top target was Carlos Baleba of Brighton. However, Brighton’s £100m valuation forced the club to look elsewhere — namely Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, a 20-year-old praised for his control, vision, and composure.
Wharton’s availability, though, hinges on Palace retaining other key assets — notably Guehi and Eberechi Eze. Lose both, and Palace will shut the door on Wharton’s sale. For weeks, United thought they might be in the clear with Guehi staying put, but Liverpool have since reignited their pursuit.
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool want a centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk, with Guehi high on their list. Palace want £40m, Liverpool are at £35m — but the gap could vanish via a player swap. Palace admire Harvey Elliott, who Liverpool value at roughly the same figure as Guehi, prompting speculation over a straight exchange.
Such a deal would leave Palace scrambling to replace their defensive leader, making them far less likely to sell Wharton — a nightmare for United.
Palace chairman Steve Parish struck a cautious note after the club’s Community Shield win:
“Players come and go in football clubs. Hopefully they’re still here — that’s what I’d like, but we’ll see.”
From Liverpool’s perspective, the move is logical. With Joel Matip gone and Ibrahima Konaté’s fitness a concern, Guehi would offer pace, strength, and Premier League know-how. For Palace, Elliott’s potential is tempting, but losing Guehi could destabilise their back line.
United, meanwhile, are in a holding pattern — either they rush to secure Wharton before Liverpool’s deal goes through, or they risk being pushed back towards Brighton’s £100m demand for Baleba.
In short, one transfer — Guehi to Liverpool — could set off a domino effect: Guehi out, Wharton stays, United miss out, Brighton cash in. With the season looming, the clock is ticking, and every move now carries consequences for all three clubs.
