An official bid went in end of August, but plenty of noise before that to indicate the discussions over price being had (and some agreement or understanding being in place).
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I am only going off what Ornstein or Joyce said, I canāt remember which but it was more official than the football bantz pages that post rumours.
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Our problem has been the specific four. Our issue is that for two of those four missing game time through injury is a definite not just a might; another was 18 yo and had never played in the PL and the final guy would benefit from being able to be rested on occasion.
We were and are clearly underdone at CB - especially when you consider our squad as a whole.
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Given the specific four, I think thatās why the club was happy to make it five, only the Guehi deal fell through at the last minute.
On that deal, I donāt blame Liverpool at all. It was well known we were in for him. Palace needed time to secure a replacement. At the last minute Glasner objected to the quality of the replacement (the name escapes me), as he was a decent step down from Guehi, and the plug was pulled.
Iām pretty sure we will be back in for a central defender in January, Guehi probably, but if thereās any truth that he has moved on from us, Richard Hughes will sort it out.
In the meantime?
How close is Bajcetic to being fit? When I saw pictures he looked like he has put on some muscle and filled out. He has missed a lot of football, but his last loan in Spain saw him playing very well again, hence the recall. An unfortunate hamstring injury came at the worst time for him, but if he is close to fitness, I could see him being used as a central defender in the Carabao Cup, not least to keep the first choices out of it.
Bajcetic might also be able to make a case for himself as a back up to Gravenberch, as I think there is an opportunity for him to move ahead of Endo in the pecking order this season, if he does well.
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I donāt think the club would have been happy to make it five, and I think had Guehi signed, we might have seen Gomez or Leoni subsequently leave on loan.
I do appreciate the reliability issues that some have raised about Gomez and Konate.
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I think they would have been OK with five, Guehi would have been a long-term signing while either Gomez or Konate (or both) would have been expected to leave within the next year.
Leoni would most likely have stayed as he had just arrived and the club.
Gomez we know was subject to interest from other clubs, and the club were open to selling. Milan made an offer which we turned down as it was only a loan deal, not a permanent one. I would have thought that if we were open to loaning him, the Milan offer would not have been refused but conditional on completion of the Guehi one.
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If I think Guehi is the sensible kind of person, he will know that it was his managers fault that the deal was scrapped leaving him shame faced not our club who did everything by the book and even let CP play him in vital games in Europe and allowing them to find replacements before putting a bid in at the agreed level.
Aka Liverpool fan.
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Leoni couldnāt
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John Salako on Radio London has doubled down saying Palace were near fully convinced Liverpool interest was concrete hence the reason they didnāt rush to bring anyone in. They didnāt want to waste unnecessary money in the summer.
Never maybe?
Sorry, can you explain that to me - Iām struggling with the logic
Doubt thatās true.
Even with Guehi staying, Palace still need more at CB, due to their system and then the type and amount of options they have.
With Guehi being so close to the end of his contract, even if there is zero interest from Liverpool or anyone, itās only responsible to actively look at the market.
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Im pretty sure you can do that as long as it isnt to a club in the same league (maybe association?)
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Fair enough on that point. If Guehi had come in with time to spare, it was certainly looking like Gomez might have been off to Milan, for example.
If Guehi had completed the move at the last minute, I suspect weād have carried five central defenders in the interim, but not long term.
I think the club was pretty clear in saying no loan for Leoni, and we wanted him as a first team option. Presumably the purpose in that, at this stage for him, was to train with us, learn up close from the likes of Van Dijk, and then start to get minutes in the Carabao and see how he develops. The injury is a real shame all round.
Edit
As things stand, the central defence looks like it is going to see changes in the next couple of windows, probably with two out and two in. Maybe even one more, given Leoniās unfortunate injury.
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Well, heās not dead. Leoni is a young, fit lad, barring anything crazy, and with a successful surgery, he should be ready to go near preseason time.
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Real shame for the lad. He has the Liverpool family with him.
Guehi? Itās all paper talk. If he wants to come then come.
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I always thought you could seems you canāt.
I might be tired. Not idea why you mean!!
Itās likely weāre going to need to bring in more than one CB, anyway. Konate might not return. Virgil and Gomezās contracts are up in 2027.
So, yes, go get Guehi. But theyāre going to need to at least one more next summer if Konate leaves.
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