LONDON — The race for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi has reached a fever pitch this January, with Manchester City making a decisive move to secure the England international following a defensive injury crisis.
According to reports from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, Guéhi has emerged as the primary mid-season target for Pep Guardiola.
The Premier League champions have initiated contact with Palace to explore a deal that could see the 25-year-old move to the Etihad Stadium immediately.
City’s Urgent Response
The move follows a devastating 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, where City lost both Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rúben Dias to injury. With John Stones already sidelined, City’s defensive depth has evaporated, prompting an “accelerated interest” in Guéhi.
Palace, who previously rejected a £35m bid from Liverpool in August, are now reportedly seeking closer to £40m to sanction a January exit, despite the player having just six months left on his contract.
The Chasing Pack
- Liverpool: The Reds have remained attentive since their failed deadline-day pursuit in August. While they would prefer a summer move on a free transfer, the threat of a City “hijack” may force Arne Slot’s recruitment team to bring their plans forward.
- FC Bayern Munich: The German giants are exploiting FIFA’s Bosman rules, which allow them to negotiate a pre-contract agreement right now. Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund has reportedly held talks with Guéhi’s camp, offering the lure of a “free agent” signing bonus this summer.
- Real Madrid & Barcelona: Both Spanish clubs are monitoring the situation, though they are currently viewed as outliers compared to the immediate Premier League interest.
The Decision for Guéhi
Guéhi faces a career-defining choice. Moving to Manchester City now offers an immediate shot at the Premier League title but could cost him a significant “signing-on fee” that would be available as a free agent in July.
“He has delivered week in and week out,” says Sami Mokbel. “The way he reacted to the Liverpool move falling through has seen a number of clubs now think that’s the kind of character they want.”
