Real Madrid have pulled out of the race to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi on a free transfer next summer, according to reports in Spain.
Guehi’s current deal with Palace expires in the summer, but the England international has already made clear that he will not extend his stay at Selhurst Park beyond this season.
The 25-year-old had looked set to make a move earlier this season after Liverpool agreed a £35million deal with Palace on deadline day.
But despite completing a medical, Guehi remained with the Lononders after they pulled the plug on the move having failed to sign a necessary replacement.
Liverpool are expected to reignite their interest in Guehi, but reports suggest that the Reds will not make a move for the centre-back in the January window and will instead wait until the summer when he is available on a free.
Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
That decision opened the door to other clubs looking to secure Guehi’s signature, particularly clubs in Europe who can finalise a pre-contract agreement with a player once they enter the last six months of their deal.
Real were once such club linked with a move for the Englishman, with the Spanish giants keen to add another centre-back to Xabi Alonso’s side over the summer.
However, Spanish publication AS now suggests that a move for Guehi is considered ‘practically unfeasible’ by Real due to the defender’s high salary and signing bonus demands.
The report adds that Guehi will ‘take his time’ with the decision over his next step, but it is reported that a move to Anfield remains ‘his great desire’.
Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for Guehi and could intensify those efforts should they be unable to agree an extension to Dayot Upamecano’s contract.
The French centre-back’s contract expires at the end of the season, with Real one of the club’s linked with a potential move for the 27-year-old.
‘It’s normal if other clubs are calling his agents, it’s part of the game,’ Bayern’s director of sport, Max Eberl, recently said when asked about Upamecano’s contract situation.
‘I’ve already said that we want to do our best and get new contract done. We are on it.’
Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has also been linked with a move to the Bernabeu, with his contract at Anfield also up at the end of the season.
The Spanish giants had also been keen to explore a move for William Saliba, but a move for the Arsenal defender is now extremely unlikely after he signed a new deal at the Emirates.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.