Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot shakes hand with Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 20, 2024.placeholder image
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot shakes hand with Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 20, 2024. | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea could stand to benefit from a transfer between Liverpool and Crystal Palace
The 24-year-old was picked up by the Chelsea academy in 2007 and he spent 14 years with the Blues before being sold to Crystal Palace in 2021.
He only made two appearances for the club, with his professional debut coming against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup with his second, and what proved to be final, outing for the Blues coming in the next round against Manchester United as Chelsea lost 2-1.
Guehi would spend the final 18 months of his Chelsea career on loan at Swansea City and in 2021 he earned himself a move to Crystal Palace. He penned a five-year deal at the club, with that contract set to run out in 12 months.
Crucially, Chelsea made sure they would stand to benefit from any future sale of Guehi as they inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause in their agreement with the Eagles.
Liverpool in talks with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi
Giving an update on Guehi’s future, Fabrizio Romano said: “Marc Guehi remains high on Liverpool list as new centre back, not the only option but contacts continue. New round of talks will take place this week.”
Guehi has been linked with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur within the last 12 months but the Reds now appear to be the front runners. It was reported by The Mirror over the weekend that Crystal Palace value Guehi at £70m. If a move is done for that fee, it would see the Blues earn £14m from the deal.
However, with Guehi in the final year of his contract the Eagles will hold out for a fee in excess of £40m - which would see £8m go to Chelsea if an agreement can be reached between Palace and Liverpool.
Marc Guehi happy to play waiting game - bad news for Chelsea
Palace received four offers from Newcastle for Guehi last summer but rejected all those bids, with the final proposal totalling £65m. In January, Spurs came forward with a £70m but this was also knocked back.
While Liverpool want to sign him this summer, Guehi is reportedly happy to let his contract run down and leave Selhurst Park as a free agent next summer. That would mean that Chelsea’s sell-on clause would be worthless as the defender would be free to join any club he wishes without worrying about an offer being accepted by Palace.
Guehi will want guaranteed minutes if he does leave Selhurst Park. He will be eager for regular football with the 2026 World Cup around 12 months away and becoming a second string player could harm his chances of playing a key role in Thomas Tuchel’s squad next summer.
He will also have the chance to play in the Europa League with Palace, providing UEFA sanction their entry.
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