Barcelona, Real Madrid eye free transfer swoop for Liverpool defensive target – report | OneFootball

The biggest stories on the summer transfer deadline day were those involving Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Reds were successful in their endeavours to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in a league-record transfer.

However, they failed in their pursuit of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, with the transfer collapsing late on deadline day despite an agreement being reached and the player completing his medicals.

Marc Guehi now on Barcelona, Real Madrid’s radar

While Liverpool are expected to return for Guehi in 2026, when his contract with Crystal Palace runs out, they are now set to face some serious competition.

Indeed, according to reports relayed by ESPN, Barcelona and Real Madrid have now set their sights on a possible free-transfer swoop for Guehi in the summer of next year.

Marc Guehi on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The England international has no plans of renewing his contract at Crystal Palace after his deadline-day transfer collapsed.

As such, from January 1, he will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with the club of his choice, and Barcelona and Real Madrid intend to make a play.

The Blaugrana lost Inigo Martinez this past summer and did not rope in a replacement and the defensive line has not looked as assured in the early stages of the new season.

As such, there may be room for a new defensive signing in the upcoming transfer windows, and Guehi, given his potential availability for free, would make an enticing target.

Real Madrid, too, are understood to be in the hunt for the 25-year-old centre-back.

However, given that Guehi already had an agreement with Liverpool this summer, convincing him to break it to move to La Liga could be a major challenge.