Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are ready to offer a lucrative deal to beat Liverpool in the race for Marc Guehi’s signature.

According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Real Madrid have entered the race for Marc Guehi’s signature, and they could try to beat Liverpool to his signature with a lucrative contract offer and huge signing-on fee. Los Blancos could even try to secure his services in January by meeting Crystal Palace’s demands.

Guehi’s future was a massive talking point throughout the summer. Liverpool were front-runners for his signature, and they almost acquired his services on deadline day. The Reds had agreed terms with both the player as well as the Eagles.

However, the move collapsed in the eleventh hour, as Steve Parish pulled the plug on the deal, as Oliver Glasner wasn’t willing to sell him without an ideal replacement. While things didn’t go according to plan for the Merseyside club, they retain interest in the 25-year-old and could return for his signature in the future.

Liverpool could try to sign him in the winter or wait until next summer, when he could be available for free. However, they won’t find it easy to sign the English international, as multiple top clubs have entered the race.

The biggest threat to Arne Slot’s team are Real Madrid. They have a great record when it comes to signing players on a free transfer, and they are willing to put forward a lucrative deal to lure Guehi to Santiago Bernabeu.

O’Rourke’s take on Guehi’s future

While speaking about Guehi, O’Rourke said: We know how good the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus are at landing free agents”,

“They do specialise in that, to try and sign players on free transfers, usually with the offer of a huge signing-on fee as well.

“Obviously it’s hard to compete with the likes of Real Madrid when it comes to signing [under-contract] players as well.

“Liverpool have now done so much work on Guehi that they’ll be hopeful that, although they did miss out last-minute in this window, they can finally get a deal done.

“[That will] either be in January if the situation arises, or on a free transfer next summer.”

Madrid could cause serious problems for Liverpool

Los Blancos seek more quality and depth at the back with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger in the final phase of their career. They admire Guehi and consider him an ideal fit for their project. As a result, they could actually meet Crystal Palace’s £25 million price tag to fast-track a move in the winter.

The team in white could even look for a free transfer and could lure him with a massive signing-on fee. Meanwhile, Liverpool remain hopeful that all the groundwork they have laid so far will help them beat the competition to his signature.