Liverpool have been joined by Manchester City in the race to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi before the transfer window closes.
The centre-back is into the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and Eagles chairman Steve Parish has been open about the club looking to sell him rather than let him leave on a free next summer.
It is a blow to manager Oliver Glasner, who has already lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal during this window, but it does appear inevitable that Guehi will also leave.
There has been no shortage of suitors for the 25-year-old, with Newcastle making bids for him last summer, former club Chelsea showing interest and Tottenham making a move for him in January.
Liverpool have since emerged as the leaders in the race for his signature, but ESPN report that Manchester City could still make a bid in the coming days.
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A move from City would only come if they sell Manuel Akanji or Nathan Ake before the deadline on Monday September 1.
Akanji has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, while Everton has been touted as a possible destination for Ake.
Pep Guardiola also has Ruben Dias, John Stones, Joško Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov as options at centre-back.
The ESPN report states that Liverpool remain the leading contenders for Guehi, despite the interest from their Premier League rivals.
Arne Slot still has first choice pairing Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, but not a great amount of cover beyond that.
The Reds have brought in Giovanni Leoni from Parma, although the 18-year-old obviously lacks experience, while Joe Gomez is also an option but has had numerous fitness issues over recent years.
Guehi would likely want some assurances that he would play regularly at Anfield, most likely dislodging Konate in the starting XI, especially with a World Cup coming up next summer.
Palace boss Glasner wants to keep Guehi at least until the second leg of the Europa Conference League play-off with Fredrikstad as the club cannot register new players for the competition at this point.
Crystal Palace summer signings
Walter Benitez from PSV – free transfer
Borna Sosa from Ajax – £3m
‘I just know if Marc leaves and is not available for Frederikstad, we will have big troubles,’ said Glasner. ‘That’s pretty clear. We can’t register anyone. So from my side, he has to stay.’
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, Glasner made it clear that he will need new signings if he is losing his best players.
‘I am worried about Crystal Palace if we are losing players and we don’t get the right ones in,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘It is my duty as manager to tell the owners what we have to do to be competitive and stay on our pathway.’