Liverpool 'face fight' with rivals Man Utd over Crystal Palace ace
- Liverpool & Man Utd both expected to pursue new centre-backs this summer
- Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi on Liverpool's radar
- Dan Ashworth a long-term admirer of former Chelsea defender
By Tom Gott
Liverpool are keen on signing Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi but may face competition from Manchester United for the former Chelsea defender's signature, according to a new report.
Guehi, who made two appearances for Chelsea before joining Palace in 2021, has enjoyed an excellent spell with the Eagles and is now a regular in the England national team under Gareth Southgate.
Guehi will enter the final two years of his contract with Palace this summer and The Telegraph state there are several sides interested in taking advantage of his situation.
Guehi has long been on a list of potential targets for Liverpool but much will depend on the new recruitment department which will be constructed this summer.
Jorg Schmadtke has left his role at Anfield and 90min understands the Reds are prioritising finding a new sporting director before switching their focus to a new manager to replace the outgoing Jurgen Klopp. Whether the new hire will approve a move for Guehi remains to be seen.
Among those on Liverpool's radar was Dan Ashworth, who is a known admirer of Guehi. Ashworth has agreed to join Manchester United, however, and has been placed on gardening leave by current employers Newcastle nited while a compensation fee is negotiated.
Should Ashworth get the Old Trafford job as expected, he could choose to push for a move for Guehi, who is not expected to entertain talks over a contract extension with Palace.
Guehi's former employers Chelsea are keen to sign a new centre-back but are not thought to hold a buy-back clause for the 23-year-old, although the report claims they do have the option to match any bids for Guehi. Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande is instead understood to be Chelsea's top centre-back target this summer, though the Ivorian comes with a release clause of €80m (£69m).
Palace may also face a battle to keep Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise this summer, giving new manager Oliver Glasner a real baptism of fire in south London. The Austrian replaced Roy Hodgson as the club's manager on Monday, penning a two-year contract at Selhurst Park.
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