Liverpool have agreed a £35million deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.
Guehi, who fittingly scored on his final appearance for Palace against Aston Villa last night, is currently undergoing his medical after the champions’ bid was accepted.
The 25-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Anfield.
The two clubs remained in negotiations after an official opening bid was turned down at the weekend, and Palace had been holding out for closer to £40m with add-ons.
But sources had told Daily Mail Sport that a deal was close and there had been an expectation in all parties that Guehi would make the move to Merseyside.
The England international, who has 23 caps, was keen to join Liverpool.
Liverpool have agreed a £35million deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi
Guehi fittingly scored on his final game for Palace and has undergone his Reds medical
Arne Slot has splashed out £160m to sign both Guehi and striker Alexander Isak
He played the full 90 minutes in Palace’s 3-0 win over Villa and even found the back of the net after his curling effort sailed into the far corner. However, head coach Oliver Glasner then insisted the club couldn’t sell Guehi so close to the deadline.
‘He’s so professional and it was clear he would play today,’ Glasner told reporters. ‘I can say it with clarity, and I said it to the chairman that it’s nothing to do with Oliver Glasner but we need to keep Marc to play a successful season.
‘We had a meeting in March where we talked about the situation we have an agreement that we could sell Marc if we have the right replacement in. We wanted to have this replacement at the beginning of the pre-season to be independent.
‘That was on July 9 (the season started), it’s August 31 and there is no replacement in the building so it’s clear one part of the agreement is not fulfilled.
‘That means we can’t sell Marc. It’s not a wish or gift for Oliver Glasner, it’s necessary for playing a successful season. We had a great start and I think our fans deserve to have the best players available. I know if we don’t sell Marc, he will accept it.
‘He loves the club and team, he feels the appreciation and we feel the same from his side. That’s why I have to say we need to keep him.’
Guehi did not address his uncertain future after the match, saying: ‘All I know is when you score goals like that it is always down to team performance. People will try to single out the goal but that was a clear team performance tonight.’
Liverpool have also reached an agreement to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle on a remarkable day of spending which has now reached £160m.
A £125m agreement for Isak was finally reached last night and Isak will pen a long-term deal
The frontman is pictured leaving Liverpool’s training ground in this people carrier
Isak will arrive for a fee of £125m after talks accelerated on Sunday night. The striker will sign a six-year deal and is believed to have completed his own medical checks.
Sources close to Newcastle say the overall deal will be worth £130m to them and the sale has been sanctioned by the club’s Saudi owners.
Newcastle hoped they could persuade the Swede to stay at St James’ Park but, after a senior delegation from the ownership visited his house last Monday and made a final plea, there was an acceptance that would not be possible.
That left the door ajar for Liverpool, whose opening bid of £110m was rebuffed.
