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The latest news emerging from Spain will come as a major boost for Liverpool, who remain keen on strengthening their defence ahead of the next transfer window.
The Reds came close to landing Marc Guehi on deadline day, but Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the move at the very last minute, leaving both the player and Liverpool frustrated.
Despite that setback, Liverpool’s interest in Guehi has not cooled. Reports suggest the Merseyside giants plan to revisit the move in upcoming windows as Arne Slot looks to add more depth and reliability to his backline.
However, competition is expected to be fierce. Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the England international.
And, I recently covered that Bayern Munich have also joined the race to sign Guehi amid the uncertain future of Dayot Upamecano.
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According to Spanish outlet AS, Real Madrid have now withdrawn from the race to sign Marc Guehi due to the financial implications involved in the deal.
The report claims that Guehi’s wage demands and a high signing-on fee have made the transfer unfeasible for Madrid.
Madrid have been recently changed their transfer strategy to getting world-class players to run down their contracts and signing them for a free.
We have already seen them do so with Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold most recently.
It is also been reported that Real Madrid wanted to sign Arsenal’s William Saliba for a free but have turned focus elsewhere after the Frenchman signed a new deal.
Ibrahima Konate remains on their radar. His current deal with Liverpool comes to an end in the summer of 2026 and while the Reds have reportedly offered him another contract proposal last week, it is yet to be seen whether he accepts the proposal or once again rejects it.
Konate is a realistic target for the La Liga giants. The 26-year-old will be available to sign on a pre-agreement in the January transfer window ahead of a free transfer in the summer.
While Guehi is also available for free, perhaps the lesser financial implications involved in Konate’s pursuit makes him a stronger priority for Madrid.
Liverpool are in desperate need to bolster their defence as they are one injury away from crisis.
Konate and Van Dijk are both back in form after a shaky start to the season, with two successive clean sheets against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
However, there is no quality backup available, with Joe Gomez the only available centre-back.
This is why it is very likely that Liverpool opt to pursue Guehi again in January rather than wait to sign him for free next summer.
He’s considered one of the best defenders in the Premier League and his performances have proven it.
Marc Guehi’s ratings in the last 7 Premier League games via SofaScore
Former Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has even hailed him as ‘incredible’, praising his quality and leadership.
“He’s an incredible player, an incredible person. He’s just ready. You can see it in the way he plays, in the way he carries himself. He’s a leader. And for someone his age, he’s extremely mature. I have no questions about him, I know he’s capable to do whatever he’s called upon to do.”