Igor Julio was due to leave Brighton for Crystal Palace on deadline day, which would have allowed Liverpool to sign Marc Guehi for £35m. But Igor changed his mind and moved to West Ham instead, despite passing a medical at Palace. What now if Guehi stays at Palace?
Photo: Has Igor Julio's decision to choose West Ham over Crystal Palace affected the Premier League title race?
There are always those small but memorable moments in the Premier League title race. It could be a transfer, an injury, a comment at a press conference or even something as insignificant as a substitution.
Have we seen anything like this before this season in the Deadline Day saga involving Brighton's SIXTH centre-back?
Igor Julio went into the summer transfer window knowing he was surplus to requirements. Brighton had signed two centre-backs – Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola – early in the transfer window, and with Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Adam Webster already in the squad, the Brazilian was far from the centre of Fabian Hurzeler’s mind.
- Transfer Hub Live! | Liverpool News & Transfers 🔴
- Got Sky? Watch Liverpool Live on Your Phone 📱
- Don't have a Sky subscription? Subscribe to Sky Sports or watch contract-free now 📺
But Crystal Palace came calling on deadline day, and the move was to have major implications for the club's hierarchy. Eagles captain Marc Guehi had been the subject of a late bid from Liverpool , and although Palace were prepared to accept a £35million bid from the Premier League champions, the deal was dependent on Palace finding a suitable number of replacements.
Igor was in talks to join Palace, while centre-back Jaydie Canvothe also joined Selhurst Park on deadline day. After Guehi was cleared to undergo a medical at Liverpool, it seemed business as usual.
West Ham take the stage.
The Hammers had long been interested in Igor, but at the start of Deadline Day that interest had fallen through and the Brighton defender was set to move to Selhurst Park. However, an unexpected turn of events in the afternoon saw West Ham return to the game, forcing Igor to do a 180.
With Palace unable to sign Igor, Guehi's deal fell through and Liverpool missed out on one of their key targets in the summer transfer window.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Vinnie O'Connor has revealed Marc Guehi's move to Liverpool has fallen through and could have been thwarted by West Ham snatching Crystal Palace's replacement Igor Julio
So where does that leave Liverpool, Palace and the Premier League title race?
How Sky Sports News covered Igor Deadline Day…
9:46am – Crystal Palace are close to agreeing a deal with Brighton for Igor Julio on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. West Ham have been interested but Palace look the most likely destination.
12:58 – Liverpool are preparing for a medical for Marc Guehi, who is understood to be the Palace captain's replacement at Selhurst Park, but there are fears West Ham could hijack the Igor deal.
13:17 – Igor undergoes a medical at Crystal Palace along with fellow defender Jaydie Canvot. Palace manager Oliver Glasner also wants Palace to sign Milan's Strahinja Pavlovic but talks are stalled.
14:42 : West Ham step up interest in Igor, casting further doubt on Guehi's move to Liverpool.
16:44 – Igor will no longer go to Palace, as West Ham are in active talks with Brighton and the player. Guehi has not yet been recalled from his medical at Palace.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Rob Dorsett says Igor's move to Crystal Palace has failed
16:49 – Igor travels from Palace to West Ham to undergo a medical with the Hammers.
17:14 : Palace have begun exploring the possibility of acquiring Milan defender Pavlovic but there is only There are two hours left.
19:00: Palace announce the signing of Canvoth for £20.8m, with West Ham offering a deal that would give them more time to complete a deal for Igor. Liverpool are also offering a deal for Guehi.
19:47: Guehi's move to Liverpool is off the table after Igor's deal collapsed and protracted talks between Palace chairman Steve Parish and Glasner.
22:00: West Ham announce Igor as their latest signing.
Why did Igor change his mind?
Pictured: Igor holds up a West Ham shirt after his signing was announced.
Leaving Palace's medical and signing for West Ham was an interesting decision for Igor.
The Brazilian defender was given the chance to play European football with Palace this season but instead moved to West Ham, who have had a difficult start to the season under Graham Potter.
However, it has emerged that Igor has turned down a deal with Palace as he was concerned about his playing time at Selhurst Park.
This came as Palace were also signing other centre-backs, with Canvot completing his transfer and talks ongoing for Pavlovic.
If Igor were to arrive and Guehi were to leave Selhurst Park, the Brazilian would be competing with Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Canvo, while Jefferson Lerma also played for Palace last year at centre-back.
How are things with Liverpool's defence?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool will be disappointed by Guehi's absence but says Alexander Isak was more important
It has been widely acknowledged that Liverpool need a new centre-back this summer. Ibrahima Konate's contract expires in less than a year and Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested, while the other main man in the position, captain Virgil van Dijk, has just turned 34.
“Liverpool really needed a centre-back,” admitted Jamie Carragher on Tuesday. “Guehi would give Liverpool three centre-backs in two positions – and provide real competition, especially for Konate.”
Liverpool are now down to four options at centre-back, with Konate, Van Dijk and backups Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni – an 18-year-old who joined from Parma earlier in the window.
Liverpool have full faith in that quartet – at least for the first half of the season – although they have backup options in Wataru Endo, Andy Robertson and Ryan Gravenberg who could fill in from time to time.
But, as Carragher adds: “Liverpool have enough players in central defence. It's just a question of quality.”
Both points are important as both teams look to defend their Premier League title. Konate, who has started the season in questionable form, was dropped in the 1-0 win at Arsenal and replaced by Gomez.
The French defender insisted it was just cramp but it underlined how close Liverpool are to relying on their reserves or stopgap options if they suffer an initial setback.
What about the Palace?
Meanwhile, Palace remain in a strong position in terms of depth at central defence.
Guehi has now been added to the above list of centre-back options, with Palace looking to balance Premier League action with extra Europa Conference League games from next month.
Palace's decision to block Guehi's transfer will also please Glasner. Before Monday's deadline, Glasner insisted Guehi should stay at Selhurst Park because he is considered irreplaceable.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
FREE WATCH: Premier League highlights from Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
However, it means Palace will lose out on the £35m they could get for selling Guehi now, but will be able to keep him for a while.
He could be sold once the January transfer window opens, but Palace could be looking at a much smaller fee for him at that stage, leaving Guehi free to negotiate and possibly sign pre-contractual agreements with clubs overseas.
It is, of course, possible that Guehi will sign a new contract at Selhurst Park, but at the moment he has made it clear that he does not want to do so.
Sourse: skysports.com
