You’d have thought the main story on deadline day would have been Liverpool smashing the British transfer record for the second time in one window to finally secure Alexander Isak from Newcastle. Instead, it was the deal that the Premier League champions didn’t get over the line that has dominated the headlines and discourse.
With a few hours to spare before the window closed, Liverpool reached a long-awaited agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Marc Guehi, who the club were actively looking to sell as he entered the final 12 months of his contract with little desire to pen an extension. By around 4pm, three hours ahead of the deadline, he was undergoing a medical at the Merseysiders’ London headquarters.
Alas, Palace pulled the plug even after a deal sheet had been submitted to the Premier League after failing to procure a replacement. Their top target, Igor Julio of rivals Brighton, opted to join West Ham on loan instead, scuppering Guehi’s chance to move to Anfield for at least the majority of the 2025-26 season.