Marc Guehi is set to spark a major transfer battle in the summer as he is set to leave Crystal Palace as a free agent, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Real Madrid, for one, have emerged as one of the suitors for the England centre-back, with the club in the market for low-cost defensive reinforcements.
However, the Merengues are not alone in the race as the likes of FC Barcelona, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich all retain a strong interest in the 25-year-old.
Real Madrid’s plan to beat the competition
Now, according to reports in England, as relayed by SPORT, Real Madrid see Guehi as a potential long-term solution in defence.
Given that David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are out of contract at the end of the season and are unlikely to be retained, a new defensive signing will be necessary, and Los Blancos want Guehi.
And, as per the report, Real Madrid plan to rely on the presence of Guehi’s England teammates Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to convince him to make the move.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace
Man in demand. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Bellingham already had a big role in the signing of Trent from Liverpool earlier this year, and Real Madrid will again turn to the same tactic in order to lure Guehi to the Santiago Bernabeu.
But Real Madrid will need to act swiftly as Bayern Munich have already held talks with the Crystal Palace star’s agent over a possible move.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, still keen on signing Guehi after their failed attempt last summer, are expected to make another move in the January transfer window itself.
Barcelona, too, could start laying the groundwork for a move from January, when the defender will be allowed to speak to clubs and even secure a pre-contract agreement for a summer transfer.
Guehi, for his part, prefers to wait until the summer to decide his future, and is hoping for astronomical offers to arrive, in terms of salary and signing bonus.
Whether the presence of Trent and Bellingham convinces him to make the switch to Real Madrid remains to be seen.