Crystal Palace is ready to complete the signing of Brighton 27-year-old defender Igor Julio in a deal that will change the plans of no less than three clubs. The Brazilian has already taken medical examinations on Monday and has a deal with the London club, but the transfer hinges on Marc Guehi leaving, as the latter is a Liverpool target. If Palace sells their English center-back, then Igor is the stopgap. It's the kind of scenario where the immediacy of the transfer window decides fortunes and illustrates how the Premier League works in a game of dominoes.
The transfer that rides on Liverpool
Palace and Brighton have already agreed on the details of the loan, and Igor has enlisted. Time is running out, however. The English transfer window closes today, and any delay would derail the negotiation. For Igor, the transfer makes sense. Since joining Brighton in July 2023, he's played 50 games, but over the last few weeks, he's dropped behind. He's been left out of the last three Premier League games and started only in the Carabao Cup 6–0 win over Oxford United. At 27, at the very top of his physical and technical game, standing on the sidelines is perilous. In that context, the Palace transfer was such an opportunity to come back from.
Liverpool is at the heart of this jigsaw. Guehi, calm and reliable, is the target of the Reds as they look to rebuild a defence that is set to lose Joe Gomez to Milan as well. If the deal is done, Palace would be losing one of its cornerstones, but at least Igor would be there to fill the breach.
The Premier League domino effect
This signing is reflective of just how finely poised the English league really is. By letting go of Igor, Brighton lightens its squad and gets the opportunity to explore other options. Palace, by bringing him in, shields itself from letting him go and has the back line whole. Liverpool, if they are able to secure Guehi, would be strengthening their defense so that they can continue to push for honors. The domino effect of each one impacting the next has the Brazilian defender squarely in the middle of it.