Liverpool are preparing to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi ahead of Arsenal, according to reports.
The Premier League champions are in the market for a new central defender as Jarell Quansah is now set to join Bayer Leverkusen in a £30 million deal, while Ibrahima Konate’s contract is due to expire in 12 months’ time.
Arsenal have Guehi on their shortlist for the summer transfer window if they decide to make a move for a new centre-back, while his former club Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle United also remain interested.
However, The Telegraph reports that Liverpool are now in the ‘best position’ to sign Guehi after agreeing to sell Quansah and are expected to make a ‘significant offer’.
Palace rejected a £70m offer from Spurs for Guehi in the January transfer window, while last summer, Newcastle saw four bids – the highest of which being £65m – turned down by last season’s FA Cup winners.
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However, Palace are now in a weaker negotiating position as Guehi has just one year remaining on his contract, meaning that they risk losing him on a free transfer next year.
Palace are already in talks with Sporting CP to sign their 21-year-old centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, as a replacement for Guehi.
Speaking about his future before Palace’s victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Guehi said: ‘I think the most important thing is just always doing the best that I can for this football club. I come in every day and I try to be the same.
‘I try to work hard. And you know, this football club has given me a lot. I’m still under contract at this football club, so my focus is always at this football club.
‘So, you know, for me, the most important is just doing the best I can and seeing where the future holds.’
Liverpool, meanwhile, are on the verge of finalising their £116m deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, with the midfielder arriving at the Premier League champions’ training ground on Friday to complete his medical.
Arne Slot’s side have also agreed a £40m deal with Bournemouth to sign left-back Milos Kerkez.
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