Gueye's transfer to Liverpool this summer was almost agreed upon, involving a one-year deal and a £35 million fee, which was fair. The player had passed his medical examination, but due to Crystal Palace’s coach Glatzner's last-minute ultimatum to the club—he would resign if Gueye was sold—the move was ultimately canceled.

According to the latest report from the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Liverpool will not submit a bid for Gueye during the January 2026 transfer window. Instead, the club has decided to sign him on a free transfer next summer, leaving Crystal Palace empty-handed both in terms of the player and transfer fee. Crystal Palace claims multiple clubs are competing for Gueye, but Liverpool dismisses this as bluffing. Gueye’s preferred choice remains Liverpool, and although the transfer was halted this summer by Palace, both sides expect a free transfer deal next summer. While there may be other contenders, Gueye intends to stay in the Premier League, where Liverpool is currently the most competitive team. Therefore, Liverpool is confident about signing Gueye for free next summer rather than paying a transfer fee in the winter window.

Gueye is currently 25 years old, valued at €45 million by Transfermarkt, and his contract with Crystal Palace runs until the end of June 2026. By next summer’s transfer window, he will be 26, which is considered the prime age for a defender.