Marc Guehi will captain Crystal Palace against Liverpool this weekend, but things could easily have looked very different.

The England international was close to sealing a deadline-day move to Anfield, even going as far as recording a farewell message, before Palace pulled the plug at the final moment.

For Guehi, staying at Selhurst Park at least until January means business as usual, though the story has only grown in importance following Giovanni Leoni’s serious injury.

The young Italian, who arrived from Parma in the summer, suffered a knee problem on his debut in the Carabao Cup against Southampton and now faces up to a year on the sidelines.

His absence leaves Arne Slot with limited defensive options heading into a critical stretch of fixtures.

Marc Guehi focused despite looming uncertainty

When Palace host Liverpool in south London, Guehi will go head-to-head with Alexander Isak, the Reds’ record signing, in what could be an audition for his future.

Despite the speculation, the defender insists he has no trouble blocking out the noise.

“I’m okay. I guess so. I don’t like the limelight,” Guehi said after netting against Aston Villa in August. “I’m glad I have a good club and good teammates around me. When you focus on what is important, the football, it makes it a bit easier.”

The centre-back, out of contract at the end of the season, is not expected to agree new terms. That reality makes a January move highly likely, with Liverpool still monitoring his situation closely.

Real Madrid have also been mentioned, which could set up a reunion with fellow England stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

A call that divided Palace

Palace’s decision to hold firm was shaped by manager Oliver Glasner, who made his position clear in talks with the board. While denying he threatened to quit, the Austrian boss underlined the gamble of selling his captain so late in the window.

For now, his stance ensures Palace retain one of their most valuable players, though Guehi’s long-term future seems destined to lie elsewhere.