Manchester City emerge as new contender to snatch Premier League star from Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool could yet receive a significant transfer blow through Manchester City having failed to sign one of their primary targets on deadline day.

The closing stages of the summer transfer window proved dramatic for several Premier League clubs, with Liverpool scrambling to strengthen their defensive department and Crystal Palace fighting to keep hold of one of their most prized assets.

Palace’s ability to resist interest on transfer deadline day may only delay the inevitable though, as rival top-flight clubs continue to circle ahead of a potential free agency scenario for one of their biggest names.

City are expected to make defensive reinforcements a priority over the next 12 months. Pep Guardiola has seen his backline tested heavily by injuries in recent campaigns, and the likes of Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol remain central to plans, the club are keen to ensure they are not left short of elite-level options across the course of another gruelling season.

Adding further weight to Manchester City’s potential interest, the club are seemingly monitoring the wider market for players approaching the final stages of their contracts. Such opportunities have proved invaluable for City and their competitors in recent years, allowing sides to land proven talent at reduced cost or even on free transfers.

According to the information of Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has emerged as a top target for Manchester City, with the central defender expected to run down his Selhurst Park contract after a deadline day move to Liverpool fell through.

It is claimed that the England international’s availability on a free transfer has placed a number of clubs on alert, with City becoming the latest of a number of elite-level sides to express an interest in the 25-year-old and believe they can make a compelling case.

Should Manchester City push forward, Guehi would represent a strategic signing not only to maintain squad depth but also to strengthen their homegrown quota ahead of future campaigns.

The England international has been a consistent performer for both Crystal Palace and Thomas Tuchel’s ongoing plans with the England national team, demonstrating the kind of reliability that Pep Guardiola values in his central defenders.

What comes next will likely hinge on Crystal Palace’s resolve to either cash in before losing Guehi for free or risk entering the final months of his deal without clarity on his future. Liverpool’s lingering interest cannot be ruled out, and other European heavyweights could yet enter the conversation should his contract situation remain unresolved.

For City, the prospect of adding a player of Guehi’s profile for free will be viewed as a huge advantage in a market where competition for proven Premier League talent remains fierce. Whether City act swiftly in January or wait for a free transfer remains to be seen.