Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi is reportedly open to a potential move to Arsenal, as the Gunners join a fierce three-way battle for his signature with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
Summer Exit Looms for Palace Captain
The 25-year-old centre-back, who captained Palace to FA Cup glory last season, is set to leave Selhurst Park. While it remains unclear whether a transfer will happen before the January deadline or in the summer, his contract situation is forcing the issue. Guehi is out of contract at the end of the current season, meaning Palace could be tempted to sell this month to avoid losing him for free in a few months' time.
The Eagles are believed to want a fee in the region of £40 million to sanction a January departure. However, the player himself could benefit financially by waiting until summer, when he would be entitled to a significant signing-on fee as a free agent.
Intense Competition from Premier League Giants
Liverpool's interest is long-standing; Guehi was on the verge of a move to Anfield last summer only for Palace to block the deal at the last minute. The reigning, yet unconvincing, champions remain keen. However, they now face formidable competition.
Manchester City have jumped to the front of the queue, according to reports, and are weighing up a January move to address an injury crisis in their defence. City's need could accelerate the timeline for a deal.
Arsenal's interest, reported last week, is seen as more likely to materialise in the summer, if at all. This is somewhat surprising given Mikel Arteta's superb first-choice pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Nonetheless, the opportunity to sign a player of Guehi's calibre on favourable terms may be too good for the league leaders to refuse.
Guehi's Stance and Managerial Insight
While the competition is fierce, the player's preferences are becoming clearer. According to The Athletic's Sam Lee, Guehi would prefer a move to Liverpool over Manchester City, but also 'likes' the idea of joining Arsenal. This sentiment was echoed by Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol, who said he had a "funny feeling" the defender would end up at the Emirates Stadium, suggesting Arsenal "would tick lots of boxes".
Palace boss Oliver Glasner has openly admitted the financial realities facing the club. "I'm not naive," Glasner stated this week. "If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen." He explained that while sporting reasons dictate keeping Guehi, there is a financial "threshold" where the club would have to sell—provided the player wants to leave.
Despite the Premier League interest, European giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich have also expressed interest in the England international, who started throughout Euro 2024 and is expected to feature at next summer's World Cup.
Not everyone is convinced by the Arsenal links, however. Former manager Tim Sherwood questioned the logic, stating: "From Marc Guehi's view, why would he go to Arsenal? He's not going to play if Saliba and Gabriel are fit... I think there's more a route into the first-team of Man City, and certainly Liverpool, which is the obvious choice."
With the January window reaching its climax, the future of one of England's most sought-after defenders remains a major talking point, with his next move set to significantly shape the Premier League landscape.
