Marc Guehi makes final Arsenal and Liverpool transfer decision as £35m move agreed

Marc Guehi is reportedly ready to reject a potential move to Arsenal this summer due to concerns about playing time, potentially clearing the path for Liverpool to secure the highly sought-after Crystal Palace defender.

The 24-year-old centre-back is in high demand as he approaches the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park. The England international has attracted interest from several top Premier League clubs who are poised to swoop if Palace decide to negotiate.

Both Arsenal and Newcastle have been strongly linked with Guehi this summer, with the latter having attempted to lure the defender away from Palace last year.

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However, Liverpoolnow appear to be the front-runners to sign Guehi as they prepare to sanction the £35million sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

According to The Sun, Guehi is seeking assurances of regular first-team football, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon next year. This is something that Arsenal may struggle to guarantee given the strong defensive partnership between Gabriel and William Saliba, reports the Mirror.

Gabriel recently extended his contract until 2029, and Arsenal are also keen to secure Saliba on a new deal, reflecting their high regard for both players. This situation could potentially pave the way for Liverpool to outmanoeuvre their rivals and secure Guehi's services in the coming weeks.

The champions are scouting for another central defender as Quansah is set to make a move to Germany. Despite the competition from Ibrahima Konate for a starting position alongside Virgil van Dijk, reports suggest Guehi would prefer a transfer to Anfield over other potential clubs.

Mirror Football reported on Friday that Palace anticipate Liverpool to put forward a formal offer for Guehi soon as discussions regarding Quansah's departure progress.

Palace have already earmarked Ousmane Diomande of Sporting CP as Guehi's successor and negotiations for the highly-regarded centre-back are already in motion.

The 21-year-old Ivory Coast international reportedly has a £68million release clause in his contract. However, while Palace are willing to break their transfer record to secure Diomande, they won't shell out such a hefty sum, with further discussions expected in the coming days.