Manchester City are on the verge of securing a significant defensive reinforcement, with a deal for Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi now in its final stages. The Premier League champions are closing in on the England international, who is valued at around £40 million.
From Liverpool Target to City's Solution
The proposed move comes after a summer of speculation that saw Guéhi extremely close to joining Liverpool. However, Crystal Palace ultimately decided to pull the plug on that potential transfer, keeping their captain at Selhurst Park. It is now understood that the 23-year-old centre-back is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium and will not be renewing his contract with Palace, which expires at the end of this season.
Personal terms between Guéhi and City are not expected to be a stumbling block, with talks set to progress over the coming days. This urgency is driven by a defensive crisis at City. Manager Pep Guardiola is currently without several key defenders:
- Rúben Dias is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
- Josko Gvardiol is recovering from a tibial fracture.
- John Stones is out with a thigh problem, with his future at the club also uncertain as his contract is unlikely to be renewed in the summer.
This shortage forced Guardiola to recall young defender Max Alleyne from his loan spell at Watford.
Financial Implications and Rival Interest
The transfer carries a notable financial clause for another Premier League giant. Chelsea, Guéhi's former club, will be due 20% of any fee as part of the agreement that took him to Palace in 2021. City's move has also seen them jump ahead of other European heavyweights who had shown interest. Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich had held talks regarding Guéhi, with the German club particularly interested in a potential free transfer next summer.
If completed, Marc Guéhi would become Manchester City's second signing of the January transfer window, following the £62.5 million arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. This double investment signals City's intent to strengthen their squad decisively as they pursue success on multiple fronts.
