Paul Merson questions Arsenal transfer decision as Liverpool agree £35m deal

Liverpool are working on a deadline-day transfer deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson has questioned Arsenal’s apparent lack of interest in Marc Guehi , claiming the defender would have been a ‘great replacement’ for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes .

Guehi’s future has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the course of the transfer window and Liverpool are believed to be closing in on a total agreement for the Crystal Palace captain.

The latest reports suggest the Premier League champions have struck an 11th-hour deal worth in the region of £35million for the 25-year-old England international and official confirmation of the proposed move is expected over the coming hours.

Guehi could have left Palace on a free transfer in 12 months’ time and the FA Cup holders have made the difficult decision to cash in on their captain while they still have the chance.

Given the eye-watering transfer fees thrown around in the Premier League this summer, Merson is shocked that Liverpool have seemingly faced no competition in their pursuit of Guehi.

The ex-Arsenal, Aston Villa and England midfielder has been impressed by Guehi’s ‘professionalism’ in recent weeks and is confident the Palace skipper would have proven a bargain for a team like Arsenal.

‘I think he’s a brilliant player, I really do think he’s a brilliant centre-half,’ Merson told Sky Sports News.

Merson is surprised more teams haven’t expressed an interest in Guehi (Picture: Getty)

Guehi has just 12 months left on his current contract at Selhurst Park (Picture: Getty)

‘It blows my mind that it’s just Liverpool [that are interested]. He gets into everybody’s team in my opinion.

‘People might say at Arsenal he won’t get in at the moment because of the two [Saliba and Gabriel], but he’s a great replacement.

‘I know he might want to play, but in this day and age when we’re talking about £60m, £80m, £100m, £120m, he is a cup of tea for a top, top drawer centre-half.’

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Merson added: ‘I don’t know the lad, but from the outside, with everything that’s gone on around transfer deadline day, look at the way he’s acted.

‘He’s done his job, he’s turned up. Alright, he might have had that thing with the manager on the pitch at Chelsea .

‘But he’s turned up, scored an unbelievable goal [against Aston Villa] yesterday. He’s a proper, proper professional.

‘If he doesn’t get his move this year, he’s going to go on a free next year.’

The England defender won the FA Cup with Palace last season (Picture: Getty)

According to Merson, the addition of Guehi at Liverpool could create a selection headache down the line for head coach Arne Slot.

‘They’re good problems at the start but they’re not in the end. You’ve got to keep everybody happy,’ Merson continued.

‘I know people are saying that Salah is going away for six weeks so Ekitike and Gakpo will be alright, but that’s only for four, five, six weeks of January and you’ve got all the rest of the season.

‘That’s why Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to work with a big squad. It becomes hassle in the end.

Glasner hopes Palace turn down Liverpool’s proposal for Guehi (Picture: Getty)

‘But Guehi is a good player and whoever gets him has had a result, especially with the money they’re talking about.’

After Guehi scored a superb goal in Palace’s 3-0 win over Villa, Oliver Glasner said the club simply ‘had to keep’ hold of the centre-half in order to enjoy a successful campaign.

‘There is no deal,’ the Palace head coach told reporters at his post-match press conference.

Palace have already lost Eze this summer (Picture: Getty)

‘We can decide, he is our player and under contract. We can decide. It is up to us. The only one who decides if Marc has to stay is our chairman.

‘Our fans deserve to have the best players available. If we don’t sell Marc, he will accept it. He loves Crystal Palace and the team.’

Glasner added: ‘We have to [keep Guehi] if we want to play a successful season.

‘We had a fantastic start, unbeaten in these six games, winning the Community Shield. Goal number two was qualifying for the group stage of the Conference League and we did it.

Guehi was on the scoresheet as Palace put Villa to the sword at the weekend (Picture: Getty)

‘I told the players it was a good start, for a great start we need to win here and this is what the players did.

‘But it’s just a start. The first step is made. And for playing a successful season we need Marc.

‘It’s not possible within one day to find the replacement who can play immediately in the Premier League. When you see our defensive set-up, this is our foundation, everybody knows exactly what he has to do, everybody can rely on each other. Marc isn’t a small part in this, he’s our captain.

‘We have to keep him. I told this to the chairman. It’s not for me.

‘I like Marc, he’s such a professional player, and is such a nice guy but it’s for the future of Crystal Palace, it’s for playing a successful season. We have to keep him.

‘We’ve talked about this situation and said, okay, we’re just selling Marc if we have the right replacement. If we don’t have the right replacement for me it’s clear to keep him.’