Real Madrid want Marc Guehi in January transfer window? Liverpool, Barcelona shocked as defender shows interest

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was wanted by Barcelona gaffer Hansi Flick after the former Chelsea defender's bid to join Liverpool on the summer transfer deadline day collapsed. The Premier League champions were expected to bid big in January after Guehi was said to be impressed by the Barcelona project instead of waiting for his contract to run out and acquire him as a free agent.

Meanwhile, in a new development, Real Madrid are rumoured to have entered the race to sign the English international, despite their interest in Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal) and Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur). There are reasons to believe that joining Xabi Alonso's team could emerge as a priority for Guehi, even more than joining the Reds, a new report claimed.

Real Madrid, home to Guehi's international teammates Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, are yet to start any talks but are poised to do so, multiple British media reports said. Journalist Fraser Fletcher also reportedly confirmed that Barcelona and Real Madrid are expected to come after Guehi in January. Liverpool had to witness their bid for him collapse as Crystal Palace failed to land a top-class replacement. Their manager had threatened to quit if his captain was sold before any reinforcements arrived and Palace said no to Liverpool.

Guehi is in the last year of his contract and has already informed his employer that an extension is out of the question. If they are to avoid him walking away as a free agent, Crystal Palace will have to say yes to the best bidder in the winter window. Liverpool, after their bid failed in the summer, were hoping to get him for free in July but the arrival of Barcelona and Real Madrid may force them to spend big in January.

After Chelsea backed out of the race to get their former star after coming to know about his interest in Liverpool, there were reports that Palace may try to plant stories of bidding wars in order to Liverpool to pay them in January. But Real's hunt for fast and ball-playing defenders to fit in Xabi Alonso's system makes it believable that they have another Premier League defender on their wishlist. Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba will not be offered extensions and eder Militão's fitness concerns means the Los Blancos will need more reinforcements in the backline even if they get Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool after having signed Dean Huijsen.

It was reported earlier that Liverpool's global talent scout Stewart Downing claimed that Guehi will be captain Virgil van Dijk's long-term replacement at Anfield. He said there is a real possibility that VVD and Guehi would start together before the Dutchman makes way for the younger star. But everything will be turned upside down for the Reds if Real decide to go hard after the man, who they were hoping to replace the player they were about to lose to them!