A new defender appears to be on the radar for Real Madrid in the summer with David Alaba set to depart the Bernabeu. The Austrian's contract expires and a potential move to the Saudi Pro League could be on the cards.
Alaba isn't the only center-back whose future is increasingly likely to lie away from the Spanish capital. Antonio Rudiger is also coming into the last few months of his current deal and Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly pushing Al-Nassr to swoop for the German.
Madrid will need to replace Alaba and there have been several names linked with a switch. There is seemingly good news for Xabi Alonso over one of the club's targets.
Marc Guehi enticed by La Liga move
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is one of Europe's most sought-after defenders because he becomes a free agent in the summer. Liverpool had agreed to sign the Englishman on transfer deadline day but a deal fell through after Olvier Glasner threatened to leave the Premier League club.
Guehi is expected to depart either this winter or in the summer and has some of English football's biggest clubs chasing his signature. But remaining in England isn't his only option and he could be persuaded on a move to one of the El Clasico giants.
TEAMtalk reports that 'the lure of Spain remains something very much in Guehi's thoughts.' It's claimed that both Madrid and Barcelona are keen to sign him.
Los Blancos' stance is said to be that the 25-year-old is 'one of the best defenders in Europe' and that 'we are aware of him, and he is aware of us.' That last line is intriguing as it suggests Florentino Perez's transfer chiefs have been in contact with the Eagles skipper.
Guehi has been a rock for Palace over the years and played a crucial role in their FA Cup win last season. He is expected to be a starter for Thomas Tuchel's side at the World Cup this summer.
Real Madrid won't move for Guehi in January
It's already been widely reported that Madrid won't be active in the January transfer window and that rules out a move for Guehi now rather than in the summer. The report above claims that Los Blancos prefer to sign him as a free agent instead of forking out a fee for the former Chelsea man.
Glasner has suggested Guehi could be on the move this month if a huge offer is made. The Palace boss said:
“I think Marc will stay, but if Marc says ‘I want to leave’, and a club pays massive money – with five months left of a contract – every player will leave if you’re playing for a club like Crystal Palace."
Guehi still has Liverpool eyeing him but Manchester City are also in the equation and could make a bid to win the race. But if the defender wants to challenge himself outside of the Premier League, a move to the Bernabeu will have to wait until at least June.