‘Pretty much done’ – Marc Guehi makes first public comments about failed Liverpool transfer

Despite a move to Liverpool being ‘pretty much done’, Marc Guehi was never going to act ‘a certain way’ when the deal collapsed.

Guehi looked poised to seal a switch to Anfield on deadline day last summer from Crystal Palace only for it to fall through at the 11th hour.

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The Eagles pulled the plug on the deal in a stunning turn of events as Guehi was forced to stay put.

But rather than go on strike to express his displeasure, like Alexander Isak did to force through a record move from Newcastle to Liverpool, Guehi believed that giving his all in matches and in training was ‘the least I could do’ to repay Palace.

However, there was little Palace could do to stand in Guehi’s way when Manchester City came calling in January as the England international joined Pep Guardiola’s side on a five-and-a-half year deal.

Guehi speaks for first time on failed Liverpool transfer

Speaking on how close he came to becoming a Liverpool player last summer, Guehi said: “The medical was pretty much done, and then it got pulled at the last minute.

“So, yeah, I was quite close (to joining Liverpool). I was okay. Yeah, I was okay. My mindset is always move on to the next one. God’s got a plan for me. Just focus on what I could do for Palace.

“I can’t speak on anyone’s behalf or about anyone else’s decision. That’s their life. But getting bought by Palace was such an honour, a blessing, so it would be doing Palace a disservice if I was acting a certain way.

“The least I could do was show up to work every single day, shut my mouth and keep my head down. I think that’s most important.

“I’m just glad that I got to move over the line. I’m really confident that this is the place for me to improve, to grow as a player. So I’m glad I could get over the line.”

Guehi enjoys winning debut for City

Guehi enjoyed a winning debut for City on Saturday as he helped keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Wolves, who went into the fixture on a five-game unbeaten streak.

City’s win was their first in the league this year, having drawn with Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton before they slumped to a 2-0 loss against Manchester United.

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Crucially, the win over Wolves kept City within touching distance of league leaders Arsenal, who are now ahead by only four points following a 3-2 loss to United on Sunday.

Guehi’s arrival came at a vital time for City considering they are without three centre-backs in Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones.

City boss Guardiola confirmed Gvardiol would be ‘out for a long time’ while Dias is still some weeks away from returning.

Cruel twist behind Guehi’s City switch

As for Stones, who is out of contract at the end of the season, Guardiola said in January the centre-back is ‘missing for I don’t know how many months’ with a thigh issue.

Guehi’s arrival could herald the end of Stones’ time at City, which would be especially brutal given the latter convinced the ex-Palace skipper to join City.

“We’ve been talking for quite a while, and obviously I also talked with different clubs,” Guehi said.

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“But I felt from conversations, through talking with some of the players here, that this was the place for me to improve, to get better and just to help as much as possible.

“I had conversations with John and Phil [Foden], so it’s been great. I couldn’t say it’s down to one person, but it’s definitely a mixture of everything. They just spoke so highly of the football club and the people at the football club. And for me, that’s most important.

“When you come to a place, you want to feel the love, the appreciation and the welcome. So far since I’ve been here, I’ve felt every bit of that.”