Real Madrid are reportedly confident of signing Marc Gehi, despite interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich and Barcelona recently entering the race to sign him. The current Premier League champions tried unsuccessfully to sign the Crystal Palace captain on summer transfer deadline day.
Guehi, 25, is scheduled to become a free agent after this season. Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already confirmed his captain will leave the south London club next year. However, even though this winter is the last chance to collect the transfer fee, a mid-season transfer is not in the offing. Gehi will be eligible to sign pre-contracts with overseas clubs in the new year, giving him an advantage over Liverpool’s European rivals.
According to The Sun, Madrid believe the player wants to play alongside Jude Bellingham at both club and international level and would like to move to the Spanish capital.
The club are said to be confident they can persuade the central defender to choose them over other options.
Liverpool were reportedly interested in signing a central defender in the January transfer window and were planning to approach Guehi in the summer when he becomes a free agent.
After missing out on Guehi, who remains the Reds’ top target, Slott ruled Giovanni Leoni will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Arne Slott deployed a back three that featured Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo in the Carabao Cup fourth round defeat to Palace.
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk were completely absent from the squad that day.
After the match, Slott bemoaned the lack of options, claiming that there were only 15 senior players available and that number was made up of young players from the academy.
Yet Liverpool are not alone in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements this January.
Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl confirmed that Dayot Upamecano is on the market, although extending his contract remains the main objective.
Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting that Gehi’s representatives had traveled to Germany for initial talks with Bayern officials.
“It’s clear that we, as Bayern Munich, are exploring the market,” Hebert told DAZN. “Our clear goal is to extend the contract with Upa, that is our ultimate goal.
“If it doesn’t work out, we have to be prepared. We would be foolish not to. That’s why. I haven’t confirmed anything, but we are active in the market.”
