Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool are facing serious competition to sign one of their top transfer targets
Liverpool are facing some serious competition to sign top transfer target Marc Guehi as they eye a deal for him in the summer when his contract expires at Crystal Palace.
Manchester City are willing to pay a fee to sign him this month but Palace are not keen to lose him, despite his plans to leave as a free agent at the end of the season. City have had some injury problems at centre-back and as Arsenal’s closest challengers for the Premier League title, they are keen to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.
Arsenal have also emerged as contenders as they also eye a potential free transfer despite boasting one of the world’s best centre-back pairings in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
Another club seriously interested in signing Guehi is Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. The German club are free to speak to the England international about a pre-contract, something Premier League clubs are not allowed to do.
They have already met with the player’s agent and the club’s director of sport Max Eberl has since made ‘new calls’ to try and convince the defender to make the move to Germany.
“A few weeks ago, there was already a meeting between Eberl and Guehi‘s agent at Säbener Straße, as revealed. FC Bayern are not giving up. Manchester City remain interested for the winter, while Liverpool are pushing for the summer. An open race.”
Liverpool did have a deal agreed with Palace in the summer to sign Guehi for £35m but the London club went back on the agreement at the 11th hour despite a medical being arranged.
"He is a great guy, very humble and a great professional. He has all the attributes to be a world-class defender,” England defensive partner and Aston Villa man Ezri Konsa previously said of him.
It is no surprise so many clubs are involved.
"With Liverpool really pushing and with Arsenal calling because [Mikel] Arteta is a big fan, these two clubs are insisting.
"Bayern Munich also have some meetings for Guehi, but now Upamecano is expected to sign a new contract.
"Manchester City have been clear. They want to try. They want to make an important proposal, and they want to go strong for Marc Guehi in this January window.
"So Manchester City will try also next week. If the player decides to accept, Manchester City are prepared to make an agreement with Crystal Palace. They don't see any problems on that, but it's on the player.
"His plan has always been to move in the summer on a free, so let's see what happens. But the Marc Guehi story remains absolutely alive."
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