Liverpool missed out on signing Marc Guehi during the final moments of the summer transfer window.
A deal with Crystal Palace was agreed - reported as £35m plus £10m in add-ons - but the FA Cup holders dramatically pulled out at the 11th hour.
Owing to a lack of replacements, the Eagles dug their heels in and decided to keep their captain. Guehi is out of contract in 2026 and it means he could be leaving Selhurst Park for free at the end of his current deal.
There is next to no chance of him signing a new contract - and his departure could spark an almighty clamour for his signature.
Liverpool will be joined in the Guehi hunt by the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea from the Premier League. And there is a threat coming from abroad too.
It’s been reported that Real Madrid and Juventus have got plans to recruit the 25-year-old on a free transfer. That’s according to a new report from TBR Football - citing Madrid and Juve’s previous pedigree of landing high-profile free transfers.
Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger are just two such names in the case of Madrid - while Juventus have added the likes of Emre Can, Andrea Pirlo and Sami Khedira on frees over the last few years.
"Real Madrid and Juventus are fond of Guehi and could launch their own bids to sign him next summer, with both having strong track records when it comes to free agents," the report reads.
Of course Liverpool are reported to be the player’s first choice - with the England man having undergone a medical prior to his failed Anfield move.
However Madrid are planning to deploy a secret weapon in the chase - according to the report. With Palace desperate to guard against losing Guehi for free - Madrid plan to test their mettle with a bid of around £25m in the winter window.
"Liverpool are hopeful that the groundwork they’ve already laid for Guehi will see him end up at Anfield, but Madrid’s interest in particular could see them pay Crystal Palace’s £25million price tag and fast-track the transfer," the report reads.
Madrid are facing the prospect of losing Rudiger and David Alaba next summer and have a defensive rebuild on their hands. The 15-time European champions fancy Ibrahima Konate too - and may yet come forward with an ambitious bid to recruit both central defenders.