Real Madrid & Barcelona among 8 clubs interested in free agent central defender

Real Madrid and Barcelona form a quarter of the clubs interested in signing England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The 25-year-old could become a rare opportunity in the transfer market, following the collapse of a move to Liverpool last summer.

Guehi is out of contract next summer, and Liverpool were set to pounce at the end of the transfer window, and had agreed a €35m move with Palace, but the London side pulled the plug on deadline day. That left Guehi disgruntled, and CF Bayern Insider explain that Guehi intends to run down his contract, and will not move in January. For Guehi, it will be the most lucrative course of action.

Liverpool are still said to be keen on signing Guehi, but the Reds are also looking to delay any move until the summer now. However Manchester City and Chelsea are also now considering whether they might provide an alternative for Guehi in the summer. Liverpool are thought to be looking to sign Guehi in order to replace Ibrahima Konate, who Real Madrid are targeting on a free deal themselves.

However there are even more sides keeping an eye on his situation, with a view to a move, although they will likely have to make their case in the coming months. Guehi will be able to sign a contract with anyone he pleases on the first of January. Christian Falk confirms that Barcelona and Real Madrid are among five clubs looking at him on the continent, alongside Juventus, Inter and Bayern Munich.

Barcelona seem a more likely destination than Real Madrid at this point. Los Blancos intend to sign Konate and promote prodigious talent Joan Martinez next summer, while Barcelona have not replaced Inigo Martinez this summer, and have no clear plan with Andreas Christensen. The Danish defender is also out of contract next summer.