Exclusive: Crystal Palace Turn to Man City's Nathan Ake as Marc Guehi Nears Liverpool Switch

Crystal Palace are prepared to turn their attention to Nathan Ake if their pursuit of Manuel Akanji falls through, SportsBoom sources can reveal. 

Palace chiefs are looking towards life after England international Marc Guehi, who appears to be closing in on a dream move to Premier League champions Liverpool. 

Earlier in the window, Eagles’ chairman Steve Parish insisted Guehi would either need to sign a new contract at the club or be sold this summer.

With a year remaining on the 25-year-old’s contract Parish is unwilling to allow the player, who signed a five-year contract when he signed for around £18 million in 2021, to leave for free. 

Manchester City’s Akanji is the club’s preferred option to replace the defender, who has reportedly began talks with Turkish club Galatasaray. 

But City teammate Ake is also being considered if a move for the Swiss international fails to materialise. 

Ake is also wanted by Premier League trio Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United so Palace would need to move quickly to secure their man. 

As always at the end of the window, which slams shut on Monday evening, there are a lot of moving parts and a domino effect tends to take place.

City want Movement 

City boss Pep Guardiola is focused on trimming his squad before the end of the window with both Akanji and Ake open to offers.

It is understood Palace have approached the club for Akanji, with no formal bid going in. 

It is known that Akanji is available for £15 million after the club accepted a bid from Galatasaray with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also interested in the treble winner who signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. 

Ake is the more expensive option of the two and would likely cost upwards of £30 million.