Barcelona miss out as key defensive target chooses his next destination

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. 

Talks were held with his camp, and there was genuine optimism that Barça could position themselves strongly for his signing, especially with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Barcelona were aware that the race for his signature would be intense. 

In fact, several heavyweight clubs entered the picture, including Liverpool, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, all of whom held meetings with the player’s representatives in an effort to get ahead of the competition.

The option is completely ruled out

Guehi has decided to join Liverpool. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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.