Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi spent a beneficial 18-month stint with Swansea City on loan from Chelsea
Marc Guehi during his time with Swansea City(Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Marc Guehi says his time spent on loan with Swansea City shaped his career and was "a big turning point" for him.
Guehi is one of the hottest properties in English football right now, with Premier League champions Liverpool keen to prise him away from Crystal Palace. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone.
If he they could snatch the centre-back away from south London, the Reds would have a proper talent on their hands, something which Swansea fans could already see the making of when he spent 18 months in SA1 under Steve Cooper.
Despite a bit of a rocky start to life in south Wales, Guehi went on to be one of the standout performers under Cooper and it earned him an £18million move to Palace from parent club Chelsea.
Indeed Guehi believes it was his time with the Swans that really helped him develop as a player and person.
"I'd say my time on loan at Swansea was a big turning point," he told BBC Sport.
"Coming from Chelsea's academy and going to such an amazing club that made me feel welcome from the beginning... not playing right away, having to sit on the bench, having not to travel to games and experiencing the difficult side of football... I wouldn't say woke me up, put me in my place. That definitely helped me understand the world of football a bit better."
Two players in particular helped him during his stay at the club - and it won't surprise supporters who they were.
"I remember having a few conversations with Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer," he added.
"Two people who I look up to. Two people who helped me a lot. They were adamant that I should just carry on being myself and excelling in that area because, at the end of the day, if you're not yourself, what's the point? Having people like that helped me along the way and definitely guided my path."
Guehi has a big year ahead of him, with a place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad next summer the obvious goal. But his club future needs sorting first.
Palace chairman Steve Parish wants something in the region of £40million for the 24-year-old, while the Reds rate him closer to the £30million mark, with the star out of contract next summer. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here.
Parish said: "It's a difficult situation, everyone has to sell players to comply with the rules."
Eagles manager Oliver Glasner, speaking following Palace's Europa Conference League victory over Fredrikstad in the week, said: "If Marc leaves maybe I will try my boots because I was a centre-back. We have to act. It's Crystal Palace's future and we need to add numbers."
Football Insider report that Liverpool are hoping to land the defender for a cut-price fee closer to the transfer deadline.
“Liverpool remain in talks with Crystal Palace over a move for Marc Guehi,” transfer expert Peter O'Rourke told Football Insider.
“Steve Parish came out and suggested after the Community Shield win against Liverpool that Palace couldn’t really afford to let him run down his contract.
“Obviously the two clubs are apart in valuations right now for Marc Guehi with Palace holding out for around £35million-plus.
“Liverpool are hoping they can land the England international on a smaller fee because of his contract situation, with just 12 months to go.
“Liverpool are hopeful that the closer it gets to the end of the window, Palace might drop that price tag.
“It’s also ongoing between the two clubs and it remains to be seen if Palace will drop that price tag because there is definitely a gap in the valuations between the two clubs right now.”