Crystal Palace now rival Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of a former Real Madrid player, who ‘never makes a mistake’.
Palace want new centre-back and Guehi is ready to go
Marc Guehi was hardly short of suitors before the international break, with the centre-back’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but the Englishman once again put himself in the spotlight with his performance against Wales.
The Three Lions have not conceded a goal in World Cup qualifying, with Guehi helping his side continue their fantastic defensive record against Wales last week, while also assisting England’s first two goals.
The 25-year-old has remained a consummate professional, having not downed tools to force a move, but it appears an exit is inevitable, given the Palace captain has remained very unhappy with his move to Anfield.
Therefore, Crystal Palace have now started looking for potential replacements for the defender, and have now joined the race for Lazio defender Mario Gila, who is also being targeted by Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.
This is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states that all of the aforementioned Premier League clubs are closely monitoring Gila, who could demand a huge transfer fee.
The Italian club are only willing to listen to offers in the region of €45-50 million (£39-43 million), which is considered an affordable amount for Spurs but would be a record signing for Palace, eclipsing the £32 million spent on Christian Benteke in 2016.
Gila could replace Guehi
Of course, no Crystal Palace fan will want their FA Cup-winning captain to leave, but given he has shown no interest in signing a new contract, it is wise to start thinking about potential replacements.
Additionally, the Lazio defender could be an interesting option, given that he has experience in Europe, having featured in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League with Lazio.
The former Real Madrid player also received plaudits from Lazio sporting director Igli Tare, who appeared to suggest he was destined for the top level, saying: “He’s fast, smart and never makes a mistake. He can become one of the 3-4 best defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”
As such, it would be a real coup if Palace managed to sign Gila, but the capture of Yeremy Pino this summer showed that Selhurst Park is now becoming an attractive destination for top players.
