Marc Guehi is on the cusp of signing for Man City months after he was hours away from becoming a Liverpool player, leading to strong responses among supporters.
Man City are closing in on package worth £20 million, plus bonuses, for Guehi this month, with Pep Guardiola’s club acting after injuries across their defence.
Liverpool had agreed a £35 million deal in the summer only for it to collapse in the final hours, with the stance since then being that they would wait until he was a free agent in the summer.
This Is Anfield understands that stance has not changed despite Man City making their move for the England international, which has left Liverpool supporters confounded.
Some are led to believe it says more about Arne Slot‘s future, while others have questioned Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, or that Guehi simply moved on.
Liverpool fans say questions need to be asked after missing out on Marc Guehi
You wonder why Marc Guehi was the one for us on 31st August and then now isn’t when we’re down a centre back (and a right back) and another is seemingly going in summer.
— Craig Hannan (@C_Hannan7) January 16, 2026
Before the season started we still needed another attacker and another CB at the very least. Since then we have lost Isak and Leoni for the season, but still don’t look like doing anything. Don’t forget we came into the season as defending champions. Questions need to be asked
— Green Scouser (@Green_Scouser) January 16, 2026
If Michael Edwards and the rest don’t rate Arne Slot enough to back him with £20 million for Guehi, which is peanuts by Premier League standards, especially given the money we generate, then they may as well sack him now.
— LB (@LBLFC_) January 16, 2026
Missing out on Semenyo fine. Missing out on Guehi. And for £20m. Horror show.
— LFCDZN11 (@lfcdzn11) January 16, 2026
It feels like Liverpool aren’t spending now, because they don’t have full faith in the manager.
They need additions now and come the summer replacements for Chiesa, Endo, Konate and possibly Salah. The type of players they sign however might depend on the man who picks them.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) January 16, 2026
We are letting Guehi slip again. Embarrassing really. We are stuck with a coach most fans have no investment in anymore and seeing out the season with such glaring needs.
— Moby (@Mobyhaque1) January 16, 2026
Losing out on Guehi is one thing. Not signing any CB in January is much worse. To need to go through so many games with an injury and form prone Gomez as your only backup is negligent imo. Especially when 2 of your defenders have had ACL injuries.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 16, 2026
Fumbled Marc Guehi in the summer, still yet to hear of a breakthrough in Konate’s contract and Van Dijk’s contract runs out in 2027. Not the best planning…
Clubs will know they can hold us to ransom in summer.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) January 16, 2026
“So we didn’t want to part with £5M in the summer for our primary target and now we are not trying to hijack the deal for a lousy £20 M for a position we know full well we need cover, someone anyone try to make sense of this nonsense.” – Grobbs in TIA comments.
“Can’t say I understand the logic of not pursuing Guehi at 20m now when we were prepared to pay 35m last summer. England international, club captain, bags of premier league experience, 25 years old. Do we have someone better lined up. Serious qn — what is/was the club thinking?” – Samir Satchu in TIA comments.
If Guehi still wanted to join us he would’ve been in the second the window opened imo. Not buying the line that we wanted him on a free. We wanted him on top of Leoni over the summer and Leoni ended up doing his ACL. His head has obviously turned
— Anfield Fix (@AnfieIdFix) January 16, 2026
It was a pretty big error by #lfc not to put more money on the table for Marc Guehi in the summer, and they should’ve done it weeks earlier to make sure #cpfc could get a replacement. Glasner’s reaction at the time made perfect sense. It’s a mistake that has cost Liverpool.
— Kevin Hatchard ??? (@kevinhatchard) January 16, 2026
If we sit there and allow Man City to get Guehi for cheaper than what we actually semi-bought him for, whilst he was wearing LFC trackies, then we are clowns.
— AGT (@alexgildeatrott) January 16, 2026
Feels very much like cutting our nose off to spite our face because “he’s free in 6 months”. Yeah, well, he’s not gonna be is he, because he’ll be playing for someone else if we don’t make a move. We clearly wanted him. It wasn’t like an opportunistic thing.
— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) January 16, 2026
3 things happened in reality with Guehi.
1. We didnt want him as much now other targets are available this summer
2. His summer over the top blaise act of not caring the move fell through was a bit wierd to us
3. Were in a worse position on and off the pitch (results/manager)— LFC Micks ? (@Micks2B) January 16, 2026
Is Guehi the new VVD? No, but he’s a good option across the backline and even midfield in some games. Right age, behavior and injury record. Also, homegrown.
If VVD is injured Slot will have Gomez, Graven or Robbo as his CB options.
Not signing a CB this window is negligent. https://t.co/ONIwO9L3qn
— Parted Beard (@PartedBeard) January 16, 2026
What could Liverpool’s alternative to Marc Guehi be now?
Schlotterbeck is miles better than Guehi BTW, miles. If we can somehow get him in July before Bayern we’ve won here.
— ThisIsRowly (@NotSlotaClue) January 16, 2026
Ask yourself these two questions…
Is Marc Guehi even the right player for Liverpool?
Is the decision not to move for signings based on poor market availability or the fact the club are unsure on future management?
I think a lot of answers will be telling.
— ? (@LFCApproved) January 16, 2026
Given we have a problem defending setpieces and we bought short fullbacks as well I’d actually prefer if CBs we bought were tall and dominant in aerial duels. Guehi has organisational ability, good at bringing ball out, good defender, HG but isn’t aerially dominant.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 16, 2026
“Perhaps Xabi has told FSG that he has someone else in mind?” – Harry’s Bar in TIA comments.
Guehi is a good CB. He’s not a great CB.
You’d swear he was Franco Baresi the way people talk about him on here.
Missing out on him is not a “disaster” at all.
Yes, we need a CB but that is a different discussion. There’s plenty of other, better and more suited options.
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@HendrickD82) January 16, 2026
With Marc Guehi gone to City there are very few centre back options available for Liverpool. For me there are only 2 options. Bastoni or Schlotterbeck . Both top centre backs ?. pic.twitter.com/2pixqgIgv5
— Tom (@TactZone) January 16, 2026
I also think it’s a good idea to sit on your money in a World Cup year.
There’s always a player at the World Cup who sparkles and you want to sign them on the back of their impressive performances.
Will be keeping a keen eye out for a top CB during the tournament.
— Watch LFC (@Watch_LFC) January 16, 2026
It is a blow for Liverpool to miss out on a player who was in their club colours in the summer and merely hours away from officially joining the club.
The lure of signing him as a free agent you can understand, but forgoing entering the race for his signature when two defenders have been ruled out for the season is negligent.
The reported stance is that Liverpool are not expected to sign a defender this month and it will feel to many that the club are shooting themselves in the foot, again, while their rivals strengthen.
The Big Debate
Is missing out on Marc Guehi a major strategic error or the right long-term call?
With the club passing on a cut-price deal, focus now shifts to who the club can turn to next. Some fans feel the club must act now, while others will want to wait to secure a top-tier target – or should it be both?
Join the conversation: Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!









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