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Liverpool’s hopes of signing Marc Guehi in the final week of the transfer window have been handed a significant boost with Crystal Palace expressing its interest in Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji.
The Swiss international was left out of City’s squad to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and has been linked with an exit in recent weeks. Reports have also claimed Akanji is a target for Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray.
But Liverpool will be hoping Palace wins the race to sign the center-back, who has spent three years at the Etihad. It could hasten a potential exit for Guehi, with the Eagles willing to sell the England international at the right price.
Despite signing Giovanni Leoni, Liverpool is still hopeful of acquiring Guehi before the window shuts on September 1, while the high-profile Alexander Isak saga will also have a conclusion in the next seven days.
Unlike the Newcastle United forward, Guehi has continued representing Palace in the early weeks of the new campaign and has played every minute of the club’s four games so far this season.
It’s understood the center-back does not plan to sign an extension on his current Palace contract, which expires at the end of the season. Reports have also indicated that he is keen on a move to Anfield.
City were linked with the player over the weekend, but Liverpool.com understands the Blues do not plan to make any approach at this stage.
Therefore, Palace’s interest in Akanji could offer a telling insight into Guehi’s next steps.
"I am worried about Crystal Palace if we are losing players and we don't get the right ones in," admitted head coach Oliver Glasner last week. "It is my duty as manager to tell the owners what we have to do to be competitive and stay on our pathway."
"We are very, very late to find replacements," said Glasner. "I think we could have behaved much better than we did. It's not the best way to start the season. I think we are below the edge."
The desire to bring in Guehi has been heightened by Ibrahima Konate's disappointing performances in the early weeks of the season.
The ex-RB Leipzig star was at fault for a goal in each of the Reds’ opening Premier League fixtures and earned criticism from Jamie Carragher in his post-match assessment of the 3-2 win over Newcastle United.
Guehi, who came through the ranks at Chelsea before joining Palace in 2021, has established himself as an England regular and has been named in five of the last six international squads, although he missed June’s fixtures through injury.
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