Liverpool have virtually secured another top-class addition, with Real Madrid conceding they’ve lost the race.
Liverpool have all but secured the signing of Marc Guehi despite competition from Real Madrid, according to Bruno Alemany.
The Reds came close to landing the Crystal Palace defender in the summer, and interest from La Liga – with both Real Madrid and Barcelona monitoring his contract, which expires in 2026 – hasn’t gone away. Guehi has already signalled that he intends to leave Palace when his deal runs out.
Speaking on Sique Rodríguez’s El Bar show, Alemany dismissed suggestions that a Spanish giant could hijack the transfer.
“He’s a top player, a long-standing starter for England,” he said. “He plays on the left side, even though he’s not left-footed, and uses his left well. I think he’d be an excellent signing, but honestly, Liverpool seem to have it almost tied up.”
This aligns with previous reports suggesting Guehi has already given his word to the Premier League champions.
While Real Madrid are naturally attracted to low-cost or free defensive signings – as shown by deals for players like Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Fran García and Trent Alexander-Arnold – Alemany noted that they were only waiting due to some uncertainties.
“He’s one of those centre-backs on the big clubs’ lists because he could be signed without a transfer fee,” he added.
Why beating Madrid and Barcelona matters for Liverpool
Securing Guehi early, whether in January or next summer, would give Liverpool a huge boost.
Key issues facing the club include:
Ibrahima Konaté may let his contract run down, leaving only three senior centre-backs.
Liverpool still need a long-term heir to Virgil van Dijk – and possibly a replacement for Konaté.
Giovanni Leoni’s post-ACL recovery remains unclear.
In the worst-case scenario, sporting director Richard Hughes could be forced to recruit up to three central defenders in the summer – especially if Joe Gomez also moves on.
Getting Guehi in early would ease that burden significantly, leaving Liverpool with a much smaller rebuilding job at the heart of their defence.
