Liverpool are in talks with Marc Guehi as manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes remain keen on a 2026 deal for the Crystal Palace defender, according to a reliable source, but the threat of Real Madrid looms large over the Anfield outfit.<\/p>\n
Guehi<\/a> was on the verge of joining Liverpool on the final day of the summer transfer window. Liverpool had agreed on a \u00a335million (\u20ac40.3m, $47.4m) fee with Palace, with Guehi also undergoing a medical with the defending Premier League champions.<\/p>\n However, Palace<\/a> pulled the plug in the 11th hour after Igor Julio decided not to move to last season\u2019s FA Cup winners.<\/p>\n Palace manager Oliver Glasner personally got involved and blocked Guehi\u2019s move to Liverpool<\/a> because he could not get an adequate replacement in time.<\/p>\n Sources have told TEAMtalk\u2019s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, that Guehi\u00a0is \u201cdevastated\u201d and feels \u201cbetrayed\u201d\u00a0by Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n TEAMtalk understands that Guehi plans to hold talks with Glasner over his decision to block the transfer to Liverpool.<\/p>\n The England international centre-back is out of contract at Palace at the end of the season, and he has no intention whatsoever of signing a new deal.<\/p>\n Liverpool are still keen on Guehi, according to Football Insider, with journalist Pete O\u2019Rourke revealing that the defending Premier League champions are still in talks with him.<\/p>\n O\u2019Rourke told Football Insider<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m sure there will be interest from other clubs in January, with Palace having their last opportunity to cash in on Guehi.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce the transfer window reopens, he can either stay and run down his contract, or other big clubs will make offers for him.<\/p>\n \u201cLiverpool are still front-runners, they probably spoke to Guehi once the move did collapse \u2013 \u2018We still want you, we would love to bring you to Anfield\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s still open dialogue between him and Liverpool over a potential move, whether that\u2019s in January or next summer.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Rourke\u2019s claim backs The\u00a0Daily Mail\u2019s\u00a0Lewis Steele\u2019s report this week that Liverpool are still leading the race for Guehi<\/a>, who himself wants to join the Reds and was described as \u201cthe main driver of Crystal Palace\u2019s success\u201d and a \u201cleader\u201d by England manager Thomas Tuchel in The London Evening Standard this week.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T MISS\u00a0<\/strong>\ud83c\udf10Trent Alexander-Arnold makes Liverpool \u2018home\u2019 revelation as Man City sent clear message about Real Madrid future<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Real Madrid a major threat to Liverpool for Marc Guehi<\/strong><\/p>\n Guehi\u2019s price will drop in the January transfer window, with a report claiming that Liverpool will need to pay just \u00a325million (\u20ac29m, $34m) for the Palace defender<\/a>.<\/p>\n That would be a bargain deal for a defender who is only 25 years of age and has his best years ahead of him.<\/p>\n While it would make more business sense to wait until next summer and then sign Guehi on a free transfer, Liverpool may not have that luxury because of the threat of Real Madrid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Madrid have long wanted to sign Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season.<\/p>\n Real Madrid\u2019s plan is to secure the services of the France international centre-back on a free transfer next summer.<\/p>\n However, Guehi has now emerged on Madrid\u2019s radar<\/a>, with Los Blancos sensing another bargain signing.<\/p>\n Madrid could agree on a pre-contract with Guehi in January and then snap him up on a free transfer next summer.<\/p>\n A report this week claimed that Madrid have even told Guehi\u2019s camp that they will make an offer next summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Liverpool will have to wait until next summer or pay Palace \u00a325m (\u20ac29m, $34m) for Guehi in January, Madrid have the advantage of agreeing a pre-contract with him in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n Latest Liverpool news: Kylian Mbappe deals blow, Bayern Munich talks<\/strong><\/p>\n Kylian Mbappe has told a Liverpool target to join Real Madrid instead<\/a>, as the Reds\u2019 plan to sign him as Mohamed Salah\u2019s successor is in danger of being ruined.<\/p>\n