Barcelona miss out as key defensive target chooses his next destination | Barca Universal

"Barcelona's plans to strengthen their defence have taken a clear hit, with a report from SPORT confirming that Marc Guehi has already made a decision about his future and it does not involve a move to La Liga. Guehi had been identified internally as one of Barcelona's priority targets for the summer of 2026. The defender was highly rated by the club's sporting management and coaching staff, who believed his profile suited the team's defensive needs perfectly."

"While Barcelona remained an appealing sporting option, financial reality has once again proven decisive. Guehi's salary demands, combined with his desire to receive a final and firm offer in the coming days, have effectively pushed Barça out of contention. As a result of these developments, Guehi is now ready to make his final choice, and Barcelona will not be his destination. At present, Liverpool are leading the race, and everything points to the fact that Anfield will be his new home."

"Notably, the Premier League side was already close to signing Guehi last summer, but negotiations failed to reach an agreement with Crystal Palace. As a result, the defender stayed, with his contract now running until 2026. A January transfer is considered highly unlikely, meaning Guehi is expected to leave on a free transfer in the summer."

Barcelona identified Marc Guehi as a priority defensive target for the summer of 2026 and rated his profile highly within sporting management and coaching staff. Talks took place with his representatives while several heavyweight clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich also held meetings. Guehi's salary demands and his insistence on a final, firm offer in the coming days removed Barcelona from contention. Liverpool are currently leading the race and look set to sign him. He was close to joining Liverpool last summer but stayed after talks stalled. His contract runs until 2026 and a January move is unlikely, pointing to a free transfer in summer.

Read at Barca Universal