Crystal Palace, a Premier League club, is reportedly considering opening talks with Genoa for defender Koni De Winter. This potential move comes as speculation grows that Palace captain Marc Guehi might depart Selhurst Park this summer, with Liverpool showing strong interest.
Guehi, the Eagles` captain, is understood to be entering the final year of his contract and appears unwilling to sign an extension at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool reportedly view Guehi as a priority target and are said to be in advanced discussions. London rivals Arsenal are also mentioned as holding an interest in the England international.
However, some sources close to Guehi reportedly believe a move to the Emirates Stadium might not be the most suitable step for his development at this time.
Palace has clearly signaled their intention to recruit a new central defender, having previously been linked with players like Ousmane Diomande of Sporting Lisbon and Danilho Doekhi of Union Berlin.
The potential move for Koni De Winter further suggests that Palace is preparing for the possibility of Guehi`s departure. According to Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale, the London club might soon open negotiations with Genoa for the Belgian defender.
The 22-year-old Belgian spent several years in the Juventus system before making his loan move to Genoa permanent last summer.
De Winter is primarily a centre-back but is also comfortable playing as a right-back, offering useful versatility in defence.
During the 2023-24 season, the defender faced some hamstring issues, which caused him to miss ten Serie A matches. However, he was a regular starter when available.
Securing De Winter`s signature may not be straightforward, as Genoa is likely to demand a significant fee, partly due to a 25% sell-on clause held by Juventus from his previous transfer.
It remains to be seen whether Crystal Palace will make a formal bid for the Genoa defender this summer. However, he is clearly being considered as a potential replacement should Marc Guehi depart.
