With both Liverpool and Arsenal winning their first two games of the season, Manchester City are already trailing three points behind their two rivals for the Premier League title.

However, with Pep Guardiola being the serial winner he is, the Catalan tactician will be focused on helping City beat Brighton rather than taking a peek at the Premier League table so early into the campaign.

As for the decision-makers at Manchester City, their primary objective would be to end the summer transfer window on a positive note.

One of City’s focuses will be on selling players, with Ilkay Gundogan set to depart Pep Guardiola’s side in the coming days.

Crystal Palace are eyeing Manuel Akanji as the heir to the exit-linked Marc Guehi while Bayer Leverkusen have identified him as the replacement for Arsenal target Piero Hincapie.

Man City should hijack Liverpool’s Marc Guehi pursuit as Crystal Palace eye Manuel Akanji

Manchester City would like to sell Akanji and they should only entertain a deal with Palace if they are open to letting them sign Liverpool target Guehi to them instead.

Guehi is on Manchester City’s radar anyway and considering Pep Guardiola’s defence has looked far from solid for months now, the £35 million-rated colossus would be a welcome addition to their squad.



Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Looking at City’s current arsenal of centre-backs, John Stones and Nathan Ake are extremely injury-prone, Ruben Dias has been out of form while Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusavov are still young defenders.

Marc Guehi, on the other hand is a seasoned centre-back in the Premier League and at the international level who would instantly elevate this Manchester City side if he were to replace Akanji.

The 25-year-old is an astute reader of the game, comfortable defending inside the box and in wide channels and has the speed and imposing frame to thrive at the Etihad Stadium — having played 192 games for Crystal Palace and England.

MARC GUEHI’S CAREER STATSMATCHES PLAYEDCRYSTAL PALACE159ENGLAND33TOTAL192

If Manchester City were able to sign Guehi, they would not only be signing a top-class centre-half but in doing so, Pep Guardiola and Co could potentially impact Liverpool’s title hopes — as aside from Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, they lack experience in their defence with Giovanni Leoni being just 18.

Marc Guehi’s chances of leaving Crystal Palace

Journalist David Ornstein recently told Sky Sports’ Sky Mobile Transfer show that while Guehi is open to joining Liverpool, he could also end up staying at Crystal Palace: “At this moment, from what I hear, if the clubs agreed a deal, I think he would veer towards making the move. He probably appreciates what it would mean for Crystal Palace and also to his career.”

“But the conditions have to be right, he’s a very clear thinking guy, Marc Guehi, and if that comes to pass, and the conditions are not right at Liverpool. In terms of game time and the package or whatever, then he’ll stay, no problem.”

However, considering Guehi is open to an exit and Crystal Palace could sign a brilliant replacement for him in Manuel Akanji, Manchester City should have every chance of signing the former over Liverpool.

However, whether the player himself would fancy a move to City remains to be seen.