Arsenal and Barcelona target offered huge contract with massive pay-rise coming after deal agreed for 'close to £30m'placeholder image
Arsenal and Barcelona target offered huge contract with massive pay-rise coming after deal agreed for 'close to £30m' | Getty Images
Arsenal had hoped to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on a free transfer this summer but he is on his way to Manchester City
Arsenal have missed out on the chance to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on a free transfer this summer with the England international on the cusp of a move to Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Glasner said shortly after he confirmed he himself would be leaving at the end of the season: "My latest understanding is that a deal with Marc is in the final stages. I can't confirm a club, because it's still not done but it's in the final stages.
"The result is that Marc doesn't play tomorrow for us.
"When the players want to move on a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.
"Everyone wanted Marc to stay forever. I talked to him, of course, it stays between us. Marc showed it in the summer transfer window, showed it the whole autumn that he was 100 per cent committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.
"I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He is still at the beginning of his great career. He is a fantastic guy."
It has since emerged that a deal has been agreed between City and Palace, with Guehi himself also accepting the move. Reports claimed the deal was £20m but talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has revealed the agreement is closer to £30m with add-ons.
The contract offered to Guehi gives the defender a massive pay-rise. He was understood to be on around £50,000 a week at Palace, with his new salary at City six times that number.
Liverpool and Arsenal were both eyeing him on a free transfer this summer while in mainland Europe, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich had also expressed an interest in Guehi.
Making a move for Guehi made sense for the Gunners from a financial perspective but despite his obvious qualities, he would have had a hard time displacing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães from the heart of the Arsenal defence.
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