Marc Guehi is at the centre of one of January biggest transfer sagasplaceholder image
Marc Guehi is at the centre of one of January biggest transfer sagas | Getty Images/ Canva
Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to be right at the centre of one of this transfer window’s biggest sagas
Crystal Palace are bracing themselves for yet more interest in club captain Marc Guehi following his stellar start to the Premier League season, reports suggest.
The England international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the campaign which has already seen him rack up 32 appearances in the first half of the campaign while also registering three goals and four assists. The Eagles skipper is arguably playing the best football of his career so far and played a pivotal role in the club’s incredible 19-match unbeaten run earlier in the campaign.
However, Guehi’s future at Selhurst Park has dominated the headlines for the last 18 months. He was close to joining Newcastle United in the summer of 2024 amid reports that an offer of around £65m was tabled at the time, while in January 2025 it was claimed that Tottenham Hotspur came in with a £70m bid which was also rejected.
Guehi is under contract with the capital club until June 2026 and has shown no interest in extending his contract with Crystal Palace after four-and-a-half incredible years with the football club.
Liverpool had agreed a £35m deal for him back in the summer of 2025 and were even thought to have had the player in the building to complete a medical, but the move collapsed on deadline day after Palace went back on the agreement as they did not feel they would have enough time to sign an adequate replacement.
What next for Marc Guehi?
Sky Sports News reports that Guehi is set to feature prominently in this January transfer window. They report that Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are all admirers of the 25-year-old along with a number of European heavyweights such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The majority want to sign him on a free transfer when his contract expires on June 30, and he has been free to speak to European clubs since January 1.
Guehi isn’t actively pushing for a move away from Crystal Palace and is willing to stay until the end of the season if nothing gets agreed in January, with the Eagles yet to receive any formal approaches from any club.
It is said that Palace believe Liverpool could make a move for Guehi this month despite suggestions the Anfield outfit will wait until the summer.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner believes Guehi will stay beyond this transfer window – but has been unable to offer 100 per cent clarity. The Selhurst Park outfit could still make some money from selling the defender in January and it’s reported that offers below his asking price of £35m in the summer may be considered.
Why Chelsea and Arsenal are so desperate to sign Guehi
Chelsea have experienced an inconsistent start to the Premier League season which has partially contributed to a change of management with Enzo Maresca departing after 18 months and Liam Rosenior being instilled as new manager.
The club’s defensive issues have been well documented, particularly following Levi Colwill’s season-ending ACL injury over the summer. They have conceded 24 times in 21 matches in the Premier League this term, and have now gone six matches across all competitions without a clean sheet.
Bringing in Guehi would instantly bolster the team’s defensive options and bring a sense of stability to the backline that would enhance Rosenior’s chances of taking the team to the next level. Guehi holds an emotional attachment to Chelsea having joined the club as a youngster, aged seven, while spending 14 years of his career rising through the ranks.
Guehi never played for the Blues in the Premier League but did feature in two cup games before being sold to Palace for a reported £18m back in the summer of 2021.
Arsenal’s interest in Guehi is perhaps slightly more surprising based on the fact that they already have one of the strongest centre-back duos in the division in Gabriel and William Saliba. However, they have ambitions of competing on all fronts and could benefit from bringing in a player of Guehi’s ilk to add further competition for places.
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