Liverpool still focuses on signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace before the summer transfer window closes on Monday – and Rivals Manchester City can help them
Manchester City -defender Manuel Akanji has emerged as a target for Crystal Palace in a transfer that can help facilitate Marc Guehi departure to Liverpool.
Palace is looking for the market for central defenders in case Liverpool meets their appreciation for Guehi before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The captain of the palace started the last year of his contract and chairman Steve Parish admitted that they would now have little option to sell to prevent him from losing for free next summer.
Oliver Glasner has made it clear that they will not punish the departure of Guehi for the second stage of their play-off from the Conference League against Fredrikstad on Thursday. But the deal can still be completed during the weekend, if a compromise is found between Palace's £ 45 million appreciation and Liverpool's of around £ 35 million.
Palace is connected to Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet and Toulouse's Jaydee Canvot – and now Akanji is also on their radar. The Switzerland International fell behind Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake in the pecking order in City and are allowed to leave.
Akanji has been interested in Galatasaray, but still has to decide on his future. Palace is said to make a £ 15 million bid in line for the 30-year-old defender, who has two more years about his contract in the city.
It is still to be seen whether the move fits with City and Akanji, who can also become a target for Bayer Leverkusen such as Piero Hincapie to Arsenal leaves. Akanji did not play for City this season and was omitted from the team who lost 2-0 to Tottenham on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola tried to play the meaning of his absence, and pointed out that Ilkay Gundogan was also missing, but he has illuminated the exit of Akanji Groen. It is known that Guardiola gives a smaller team and the versatile Swiss player would leave the club after three years.
Palace manager Glasner publicly argued at the club's hierarchy after their 1-0 win over Fredrikstad on Thursday to keep Guehi. “We can't register anyone, so we have to keep it,” he told Channel 5.
“We already have Chris Richards and Ty Mitchell those small problems. There is no choice but to keep Marc for these games. He knows, everyone knows. If we want to compete in all these competitions, we need players, that is pretty clear.”
Parish, however, hit a different tone, after the agreement of the £ 67.5 million sale of Ebereechi Eze to Arsenal. “If Marc wants to sign a new contract, he can stay!” he said. “It's a difficult situation. Everyone has to sell players to meet the rules. That is a situation that we have to look at in the next 11 days.”