Football Insider exclusive as Marc Guehi is in action in a Manchester City shirt while Pep Guardiola applauds.
(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Thu 8 January 2026 9:35, UK
Man City are ready to submit a package worth £20million to tempt Crystal Palace into selling Marc Guehi this month, sources have told Football Insider.
Pep Guardiola’s team are closing in on the capture of the centre-back, 25, and have a verbal agreement in place with the player.
Now, City are keen to agree a fee with Palace, who do not want to lose their prize asset on a free transfer in the summer.
City are expected to offer £15m rising to £20m for Guehi, who has just six months left on his contract.
They are closing in on a deal after the England international came within a whisker of joining Liverpool on deadline day last summer.
Liverpool-linked defender Marc Guehi in action during a game for Crystal Palace.
Credit: Imago
Marc Guehi transfer to provide important cover for Man City
Former Aston Villa and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider at the start of December that he expected Guehi to choose Manchester City over Liverpool when it comes to his next move.
The Citizens have stepped up their interest in the defender drastically in recent weeks, and it has coincided with a flurry of injuries across the current options in their squad.
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John Stones remains sidelined and hasn’t featured since the 5-4 win at Fulham on 2 December, while Josko Gvardiol suffered a serious injury during the recent draw with Chelsea, which has since been confirmed as a tibial fracture.
Ruben Dias is also out with a hamstring problem, leaving Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as the only centre-back options for Guardiola.
Youngster Max Alleyne was recalled from his loan at Watford and started against Brighton in midweek, but it’s clear that a more permanent solution is needed.
Josko Gvardiol, Man City
Credit: Getty Images
City could now be set to win the race for Guehi’s signature, in what would be a welcome arrival, given their current plight.
Man City to face transfer pressure from Real Madrid
Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider earlier this week that Real Madrid are also “big admirers” of Guehi.
Brown suggested that he expects Los Blancos to be one of the teams that make a move for the 25-year-old in January, and feels that they would likely try and target him on a pre-contract agreement.
That would allow Real Madrid to avoid paying a transfer fee for Guehi and allow the player himself to net a significant contract next term, plus providing Crystal Palace with a way of keeping him until the end of the season.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Spanish giants will make a move for the defender, but news of their interest will add even more urgency to the situation at the Etihad Stadium.