Marc Guehi is determined to join Real Madrid next year, placing the Spanish giants ahead of Liverpool and other suitors, according to Football Insider.
The Crystal Palace skipper was close to a late switch to Anfield on deadline day, but the move collapsed. Sources say Guehi blames Liverpool for dragging their feet and spending too much time negotiating, which ultimately scuppered the deal.
With his Palace contract running out next June, Liverpool are no longer in the driving seat. The England international will have the final say, and Europe’s elite are circling. Real Madrid are pushing hardest, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona also in the race.
Liverpool’s reluctance to move in January leaves the door open for a major European transfer at the turn of the year. The setback comes as Arne Slot loses summer recruit Giovanni Leoni to a season-ending ACL injury, leaving only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez as senior centre-back options.
Guehi has started the season strongly with Palace, even scoring in their 3-0 win over Aston Villa, further fuelling interest from Europe’s giants. His frustration with Liverpool has given rivals a clear chance to swoop when the window reopens.
For Liverpool, the blow of missing out on Guehi is compounded by Leoni’s injury, which forces greater reliance on Gomez despite his own patchy fitness record. Slot faces a tough stretch with Palace up next on 27 September, followed by Galatasaray in Europe and league clashes with Chelsea and Manchester United.
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