Manchester United and Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to The Times.

The newspaper claims that the two teams have been scouting the 23-year-old in recent months as they weigh up potential bids at the end of the season.

Guehi, who has been capped 9 times by England, has two years left on the contract he signed when he arrived from Chelsea in the summer of 2021.

However, The Times report that the centre-back is “likely to leave” Selhurst Park in the coming weeks with Palace having already placed a price tag on him.

It is believed that Guehi will cost at least £55m if United do want to secure his signature, which is a pretty significant sum of money to invest in a player who has been sidelined since February with a knee injury.

Why are United interested in Guehi?

Manager Erik ten Hag is expected to lose Raphael Varane on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June. The Frenchman is currently earning £340,000 a week and the club are not willing to offer him an extension unless he is willing to take a pay cut.

Furthermore, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof have had a succession of injuries this campaign, limiting their game time, so there is a need to bring in another centre-half like Guehi.

Are other transfer targets being considered?

The Times claim that Wolves’ Max Kilman is also on United’s radar but other names are being looked at, including Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.

There have been reports in recent days suggesting that the Red Devils have been taking a look at Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo as well. It remains to be seen, though, which player will end up being the club’s number-one target.