Crystal Palace are poised to turn down a proposed swap deal from Liverpool that would see young winger Ben Doak included in a move for their captain, Marc Guehi, according to former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Brown, who remains well-connected in football circles, revealed that Palace are holding firm on their £50 million valuation of the 24-year-old defender and are unlikely to entertain a swap arrangement unless it includes a substantial cash component.
Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, have identified Guehi as a key target to bolster their defense, with Football Insider reporting on 24 June that the Reds are prepared to meet Palace’s £50 million asking price to secure the England international’s services. However, the Merseyside club had hoped to offset the fee by including 19-year-old winger Ben Doak, valued at around £30 million, in a potential swap deal. Despite Palace’s long-standing interest in Doak—whose performances on loan last season were closely monitored by their scouts—the Eagles see little value in the proposed exchange without significant additional funds.
Brown, whose extensive experience in player recruitment includes over a decade at Manchester United during their dominant era, described the swap deal suggestion as “surprising” and unlikely to materialize. “I’m sure a swap is something Liverpool would like to do,” he told Football Insider. “They want to sign Guehi, and Palace are interested in Doak, so on the face of it, it might make sense for the two players to switch clubs. It won’t be as easy as that, though, because the value isn’t there for Palace.”
He elaborated that Liverpool’s valuation of Doak at £30 million, combined with a reduced cash offer, does not align with Palace’s perspective. “From a Palace point of view, if they don’t think he’s worth £30 million, the deal doesn’t make sense,” Brown explained. “They would rather take £50 million up front because then it’s money in the bank. They can go out and sign somebody like Doak or another attacking target with that money.”Palace’s stance was further clarified by a Football Insider report on 1 July, which noted that the club prefers a straight cash deal for Guehi, their defensive linchpin and captain, over any swap arrangement. With Liverpool keen to secure Guehi, who is seen as a guaranteed starter under Slot, Palace hold the upper hand in negotiations. “I think they’ve got the stronger hand because ultimately it’s Liverpool who want Guehi, so Palace can demand whatever they want for him,” Brown added.
As the transfer window progresses, Crystal Palace’s firm stance suggests that Liverpool will need to meet their £50 million valuation outright or significantly sweeten any swap proposal to prise Guehi away from Selhurst Park. For now, the Eagles remain resolute, prioritizing financial flexibility to reinvest in their squad over a deal that doesn’t meet their expectations.