Bayern Munich, Liverpool ready to sign Real Madrid defensive target in January | OneFootball

Real Madrid are gearing up for an important summer transfer window in 2026, where the club are primarily expected to reinforce their defensive options.

Ibrahima Konate has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu on a free transfer, but the club are also keeping tabs on other available options in the market.

One of them is Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace centre-back who will become a free agent at the end of the season. Real Madrid, therefore, are monitoring the situation.

Liverpool, Bayern looking to get ahead in the race

However, SPORT reports that Real Madrid are facing intense competition in the race to sign Guehi, who is a target for a host of other European clubs.

The likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool are some of the other clubs keen on the services of Guehi.

In fact, Liverpool and Bayern are looking to get ahead of Real Madrid in the race by considering a January move for the Crystal Palace defender.

Will Marc Guehi wear the Real Madrid white next season? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

These two clubs believe that Palace might want to profit from the sale of Guehi and would, therefore, invite bids in January so that they can at least yield some transfer fee.

That is why Liverpool and Bayern are ready to make a move for the English international in January, knowing Real Madrid would be keener on signing the defender only as a free agent.

However, the sticking point for these two clubs, as well as Palace, is that any January transfer would require the approval of the defender himself.

That is where things get interesting, as recent reports suggest Guehi has chosen Real Madrid as his next destination.

Therefore, if Real Madrid can somehow promise the defender a deal in the summer of 2026, the player could potentially refrain from leaving Palace in January and move to the Bernabeu at the end of the season.