Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Fulham locked in transfer battle for Raphael Le Guen
Crystal Palace are frontrunners for Brest defender Raphael Le Guen, but Arsenal are monitoring the situation following William Saliba's injury.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Premier League clubs Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Fulham are currently locked in a fierce transfer battle for Brest defender Raphael Le Guen, with Crystal Palace emerging as the current frontrunners.
According to reports from L'Équipe and Foot Mercato, Crystal Palace have already reached an agreement on personal terms with the 19-year-old. While Brest rejected their initial bid, manager Pierre Sage is pushing hard for the move, as the club faces an urgent need for defensive reinforcements following the departures of Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix.
Arsenal are also closely monitoring the situation. Mikel Arteta is seeking short-term cover due to a back injury sustained by William Saliba, which is expected to keep the defender sidelined for several weeks. Although the Gunners are finalizing a deal for Ezri Konsa, they view Le Guen as an exciting long-term prospect who could provide immediate depth.
Fulham, meanwhile, appear to be losing ground in the pursuit. Despite an urgent need to replace departing defenders, they have struggled to match the swift progress made by Crystal Palace in negotiations. The player himself is reportedly drawn to the project presented by Sage.