Chelsea are set to loan out striker Marc Guiu to Sunderland for the 2026/27 season with the club seeing him as having similar potential to that of Cole Palmer
Marc Guiu prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain.
Sunderland are closing in on the transfer of striker Marc Guiu on loan from Chelsea.
(Image: Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Chelsea harbour great expectations for Sunderland-bound forward Marc Guiu, having arranged a loan transfer for the player in anticipation of the forthcoming Premier League season.
The 19-year-old made the move from Barcelona to Chelsea last summer, but found consistent playtime elusive under Enzo Maresca's management last season. Over the course of the campaign, he took to the pitch only 14 times albeit having stuggled with injuries for a period, with seven of those outings occurring in the UEFA Conference League, where he netted six goals.
Guiu is poised to join the Black Cats on a season-long loan, in pursuit of more frequent game time to bolster his growth and acclimatisation to English football. The agreement does not include an option to make the transfer permanent, with the striker set to return to Stamford Bridge next summer.
Regis Le Bris will hope in his time at the club that Guiu can make a big impact up on the return to the Premier League, with the side kicking off the season against West Ham in just under two weeks' time.
Ipswich Town also expressed interest in Guiu, however, it appears a move to the Stadium of Light is imminent. Chelsea will be confident that this loan spell will prove highly beneficial for the player's future prospects.
According to The Times, via Football London, Chelsea insiders at the club are comparing Guiu's potential to that of Cole Palmer.
Palmer has been a standout performer in the Premier League since his transfer from Manchester City to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023. In his 97 appearances donning a Chelsea jersey, he has scored 43 goals and provided 29 assists.
Back in January, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca spoke highly of Guiu's development, noting the young player's daily progress. "Marc is improving a lot, to be honest. He's doing fantastic. Day by day, he is becoming more ready for that sort of game," he commented.
Comparing Guiu's current stage with Palmer's at a similar point in his career, it's noted that Palmer had marginally less first-team experience. Should Guiu emulate the advancements made by his Chelsea colleague, it bodes well for all involved.
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