Tottenham Hotspur aren't currently desperate for center back help, but they could be interested in signing a new central defender in 2025 to replace Cristian Romero if Atletico Madrid - or some other club - were willing to pay top dollar to coax the Argentinian international away from North London.
Although that looks unlikely, Tottenham have been keeping an eye on the market for center back signings just in case. Spurs recently took a flier on young Japanese defender Kota Takai, but he may be stowed away as one for the future and not a current top backup for the 2025/26 season.
Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi has been on Tottenham's radar as a favored center back transfer target, and a couple of months ago when Atleti's strong interest in Romero first came to view, Guehi was mentioned as a top transfer target for Spurs.
Last summer, Tottenham submitted a 70 million pound bid for Guehi, but Crystal Palace were not interested in parting ways with their most valuable player. Their decision was proven correct in the end, as Guehi played a vital role in Palace winning the FA Cup.
Liverpool are now ready to pounce
But with just one year left on his contract, Guehi could leave as a free agent in 2026, and Palace will be forced to sell him this summer at a rate significantly lower than the 70 million they rejected from Spurs last year. Palace are still expected to demand top dollar for Guehi, but if this is the guy Tottenham and Daniel Levy really want, 2025 may be the year to pounce.
Other top clubs in the Premier League will be keen on Guehi, including former employers Chelsea, and it looks like Tottenham have to worry about reigning league champions Liverpool snapping up Guehi, which could happen sooner rather than later.
After weeks of speculation, Liverpool have completed the sale of young center back Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. Over a week ago, Fabrizio Romano reported that once the Quansah sale was completed, Liverpool would begin to advance on signing a new center back.
Since Virgil van Dijk is getting older, Liverpool are looking for a proven center back who can be a strong third option to Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk and then eventually replace the Dutchman as a star player.
Per Romano, Liverpool have had Guehi on their shortlist at center back for "months", and with Crystal Palace already looking at Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande as a potential replacement, Guehi may be tailor-made for Liverpool to move towards this summer now that the Quansah deal with Leverkusen is wrapped up.
Tottenham need to hold onto Romero as tightly as they can, because Guehi is the one guy who could even conceivably be a replacement - let alone upgrade - in the Premier League for the recent Europa League hero at Tottenham. Liverpool are almost certainly going to win the race for Guehi if they get involved, and Spurs can't compete with both Chelsea and the Reds for this transfer right now, especially if they can't even beat Manchester United to Bryan Mbeumo.