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Liverpool will have to contend with competition from Real Madrid when it comes to signing Marc Guehi this summer, according to recent reports.
The Reds missed out on signing Guehi on transfer deadline day after the deal was scuppered at the 11th hour. It meant the England international remained at Crystal Palace and has missed just one of the Eagles’ 22 matches this season.
But there is no doubt Guehi will not be a Palace player beyond the summer, with the 25-year-old’s contract set to expire at the end of the campaign. He is not expected to sign fresh terms, and Liverpool remains keen on signing Guehi.
However, as per The Athletic, the Premier League champions are not alone in hoping to secure his services.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid are said to be keen on the player, with any suggestions that Liverpool is a shoo-in to sign the 25-year-old "wide of the mark."
The report adds that Guehi will listen to offers from interested parties before making his decision, with the center-back expected to join a side that can compete for the Champions League.
Liverpool’s need for greater center-back depth has been exacerbated by the underwhelming performances of Ibrahima Konate this season, Arne Slot’s reluctance to play Joe Gomez, and Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury.
Even the usually unflappable Virgil van Dijk has endured a disappointing campaign, and his contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season.
As for Real, it has been linked with a summer move for Dayot Upamecano, who is also available on a free, while the same report from The Athletic claims Los Blancos will not attempt to sign Konate this summer.
Guehi is the third high-profile center-back whose contract expires at the end of the season, and his Palace teammate Adam Wharton has all but confirmed he will depart Selhurst Park this summer.
"There's obviously so much speculation," he said on The Athletic FC Podcast. "I think it's pretty obvious. I think it came out that he wasn't going to sign a new deal. So yeah...
"I think, obviously, he's a top defender. You've seen it week in, week out in the Premier League. You've seen it at the Euros and after that for England.
"He could literally go to any club in the world, for me, and be starting comfortably. It's probably just where he goes. And when. If he goes in January or in the summer, who knows? I hope he stays until summer so we can have him for a bit longer. We'll have to see."
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