Arsenal have emerged as serious contenders in a four-way battle to secure the signature of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, according to fresh reports. The Gunners, currently leading the Premier League, are poised to face stiff competition from domestic rivals and a European giant for the highly-rated centre-back.
Open Race for Palace Captain
Sky Sports reports that Arsenal are firmly 'in the race' to sign Marc Guehi, with the belief that the player's future destination will be his own choice. The situation is described as 'wide open' with no clear frontrunner established at this stage.
This provides Mikel Arteta's side with a genuine opportunity to land the 25-year-old, despite having a formidable defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba, who have both recently committed to new long-term deals at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal boast the Premier League's best defensive record this season, conceding only 14 goals in 21 matches, and have been the division's tightest defence for the past two consecutive campaigns.
Guehi, who is currently 'weighing up his options', is also a target for Manchester City this month. However, the Etihad club would need to present Palace with an offer deemed 'too good to turn down' to secure a mid-season move. Liverpool, who agreed a £35 million deal for the player on last summer's deadline day, remain keen but are now focused on signing him as a free agent next summer. Palace manager Oliver Glasner has publicly acknowledged Guehi could depart this January.
Bayern Munich Step Up Pursuit
Adding a significant continental twist to the saga, German champions Bayern Munich are aggressively pursuing a deal. As Guehi's contract expires in the summer of 2026, Bayern are the only club among the interested parties legally permitted to speak with him now regarding a pre-contract agreement for a summer move.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reports that Bayern's director of sport, Max Eberl, has 'made new calls' in recent days in a concerted effort to convince Guehi to move to Bavaria. Eberl previously met with the player's agent several weeks ago, and the Bundesliga club 'are not giving up' despite the intense Premier League competition from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Arteta's Title Charge and Transfer Strategy
The transfer update comes as Arsenal enjoy a stellar season on multiple fronts. Mikel Arteta's men sit top of the Premier League and their Champions League group, while also preparing for a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea. While the club is not anticipated to be overly active in the January window, a major market opportunity for a player of Guehi's calibre could prompt action.
Plettenberg reaffirmed that the chase for the Crystal Palace captain remains 'an open race', with the player yet to make a final decision on his future post-Selhurst Park. For Arsenal, securing Guehi would represent a major coup and a significant reinforcement to an already elite defensive unit as they build a squad capable of sustained success.
