Marc Guehi's transfer saga unfortunately didn't end with him joining Liverpool.

Throughout most of the summer transfer window, the Englishman was linked with an Anfield switch. Although the Reds met the price tag Steve Parish was demanding, they still didn't sanction his exit.

Indeed, this was likely because Igor Julio chose not to make the switch to Selhurst Park, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Palace had no replacements lined up for their captain.

Of course, there was always the off-chance that he could end up signing an extension with the Eagles, but when it was clear that that wasn't going to happen, Parish and Oliver Glasner should have been scouring the market for a new centre-back.

Instead, they left it until the last minute and have now missed out on £35million.

The fact that Palace allowed Guehi to undergo his Liverpool medical shows that they were serious about selling him.

Parish's stance throughout the entirety of the window was that the Eagles couldn't afford Guehi leaving for nothing upon the expiry of his contract.

However, if they don't get a bid from Liverpool or any other team in January, that's the way things look to be headed.

And, while speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Gary Lineker said that if he were in Guehi's shoes, that's exactly what he'd do.

"If I were him [Guehi] now, I wouldn't try to get the move in January, I would now wait until the end of my contract, which is next summer, and go on a free," Lineker said.

"They've used him a little bit, there's no question about that, I mean to take it that far, to go almost on the brink, he probably almost signed the contract, and then to be pulled back was tough on him.

"But, he'll get a better deal for himself next summer, certainly financially, who knows if Liverpool will still be in for him at that point, somebody will be because he's a class act and they also know that he's a player they can trust as a human being."

Although the Reds could end up getting their dream centre-back target for free next summer, if Ibrahima Konate's performances continue to be below par, Liverpool will have a real problem on their hands.

Granted, he did put in a better performance against Arsenal in their 1-0 win last Sunday, but that doesn't excuse the poor form he showed earlier in the season.

Of course, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are also available to be used, but with Gomez's injury history and the fact that Leoni is still just 18 years old, neither are ready to be regular starters.

So, with this in mind, it makes sense for Liverpool to bid around £15million or £20million for Guehi in January.

It's a lot less than they would've paid this summer, and it gives them a world-class centre-back as an option.

Only time will tell what the future has in store, but for now, it's anyone's guess what could happen.