Marc Guehi has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City(Image: (Martin Rickett/PA Wire))

Arsenal can avoid paying £45million in the summer transfer window by signing Marc Guehi as a free agent. The Gunners have emerged as serious contenders for the Crystal Palace captain with Liverpool and Manchester City also strongly linked.

The Premier League champions tried to sign him last summer but were unsuccessful in their attempts while Pep Guardiola's side are trying to sign him in January having lost Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injuries.

Unlike for those at Etihad Stadium, Guehi is not an Arsenal transfer target for this month, but there is a long-term admiration for the defender in north London

If he is still at Palace by February 3, Arsenal and Liverpool will be the Premier League clubs battling for his signature while a move to Real Madrid is also an option.

Two of the eight summer signings negotiated by sporting director Andrea Berta were defenders with that in addition to the five players in those positions already at the club. Cristhian Mosquera was one of those signings as he joined for...