Manchester City are closing in on signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, with the defender having entered the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 4: Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James' Park on January 4, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Marc Guehi looks to be leaving Crystal Palace(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Manchester City are set to pay a fee which could reach £30million for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. City have fast-tracked a move for Guehi, 25, amid their defensive injury crisis involving John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Friday that the England international won't feature when the Eagles travel to Sunderland on Saturday. Guehi's contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in June and he decided earlier this season that he won't be signing a new deal.
Mirror Football revealed last week that City felt they were about to win the race for Guehi, having made the first move at the start of the January window.
The situation means that he'd be able to leave for free in the summer, but City have swooped in and sealed a £30m deal just four months after Liverpool came close to signing him. The ex-Chelsea prospect still needs to pass a medical and agree personal terms, but neither is expected to be a problem, and he could join in time for City's Champions League clash with Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the Sunderland game, Glasner - who also revealed that he'd be leaving Palace at the end of the season - confirmed: "My latest understanding is the deal for Marc is in the final stages. I cannot confirm the club's [latest].
"It's not done but the result is Marc doesn't play tomorrow for us. I mentioned it a few weeks ago, I was pretty clear. Every player, depending on their contract situation, there is a price where the club say they want to do it.
"When a player says they want to move, a deal happens. It looks like it happens now. Everybody wants Marc to stay forever - Crystal Palace captain and playing - but the reality is different."
City ramped up their pursuit of Guehi following injuries to Dias and Gvardiol which have seen the duo join fellow defender Stones in the treatment room. It also prompted Pep Guardiola's side to recall youngster Max Alleyne from his season-long loan at Championship side Watford last week.
Manchester City's Croatian defender #24 Josko Gvardiol (L) and Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias (R) chat during warm-up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias recently suffered injuries(Image: Oli SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
The 20-year-old has started City's last two games alongside Abdukodir Khusanov in a partnership that could continue in Saturday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Guardiola offered little when quizzed about Guehi during his own press conference, simply telling reporters that he had 'nothing to say'.
When pressed on how challenging those injury problems are proving for City right now, as they fight to win four different competitions, Guardiola replied: "Without John, without Ruben, without Josko, we are in a difficult situation for a long period. Ruben will be back soon, John hopefully, we will see."
Content Image
Content Image