Manchester City Close In On Marc Guehi Transfer Deal

Manchester City have made a decisive move in the January transfer window, agreeing a deal in principle to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi for £20 million. The 25-year-old England centre-back, who has been a stalwart for Palace since joining from Chelsea in 2021, is expected to finalize his switch to City this month, pending agreement on personal terms. The transfer comes at a crucial moment for the Premier League champions, who are battling defensive injuries and looking to reinforce their backline as they chase more silverware.

The deal for Guehi accelerated rapidly over the past 24 hours, with City acting swiftly following injuries to key defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias. Gvardiol, the Croatian international, recently underwent surgery after breaking his shinbone in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, while Dias, the Portuguese centre-back, is sidelined for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury. With these setbacks, Pep Guardiola’s side found themselves in urgent need of defensive depth as they prepare for a high-stakes derby clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford this Saturday.

Guehi has been on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs for some time, having nearly joined Liverpool last summer in a £35 million deal that ultimately fell through at the final hour. He’s also been linked with Arsenal and other top teams, but it’s City who have made their intentions clear with a formal bid. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, "City have made a bid and want Guehi to join now. The fee is not expected to be an issue, but the player isn’t fully on board. Arsenal have been in his ear about waiting until the summer, and although there's been no final decision yet, that's generally felt to be the direction he’s leaning towards." Nevertheless, the momentum appears firmly with City as they advance negotiations.

Personal terms are yet to be formally agreed upon, but sources close to the deal suggest this won’t be a stumbling block. City have already strengthened their squad this window by signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5 million, demonstrating their intent to remain at the top of English football. The addition of Guehi would further solidify their defensive options, especially with a congested fixture list ahead and ambitions in multiple competitions.

The transfer saga has also had ripple effects at Crystal Palace. Manager Oliver Glasner, who guided Palace to their first major trophy with an FA Cup triumph over City in May and a Community Shield win against Liverpool at the start of the season, confirmed on Friday that he will leave the club when his contract expires in June. Glasner insisted that Guehi’s potential departure had "zero impact" on his decision to leave, stating, "My decision has already been taken months ago." He added that he informed Palace chairman Steve Parish back in October that he would not sign a new contract, but the timing of the Guehi deal prompted him to make his intentions public now.

Glasner praised Guehi’s professionalism throughout the months of transfer speculation, remarking, "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% 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." With the deal now in its final stages, Glasner confirmed that Guehi would not be in the squad for Palace’s Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday.

The move marks a significant chapter in Guehi’s career. After joining Palace from Chelsea in 2021, he quickly established himself as a defensive leader and was handed the captain’s armband. His performances earned him a regular spot in the England national team, where he was a key player in the Three Lions’ run to the Euro 2024 final. His leadership on and off the pitch helped Palace secure their historic FA Cup win, and his potential departure is a blow for the Eagles as they look to rebuild under a new manager next season.

For Manchester City, Guehi’s arrival is seen as a timely boost. With the club still competing on multiple fronts, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, depth and experience in defense are crucial. City’s sporting director, Hugo Viana, has reportedly been instrumental in pushing the deal forward, with negotiations reaching a breakthrough on Thursday night. While City manager Pep Guardiola remained tight-lipped when questioned about the transfer, simply stating, "nothing to say," the club’s actions speak volumes about their determination to reinforce the squad for the challenges ahead.

The transfer has also caught the attention of Arsenal, who are currently leading the Premier League by six points and remain vigilant for opportunities to strengthen their squad. Reports suggest that Arsenal approached Guehi and encouraged him to consider a move in the summer rather than January. However, with City’s bid advancing quickly, the Gunners may have to look elsewhere or risk missing out on a top defensive target.

Meanwhile, the January transfer window continues to buzz with activity across the league. Chelsea are monitoring Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is out of contract in the summer, and are also keeping tabs on centre-backs Jeremy Jacquet and Jacobo Ramon. Arsenal, for their part, are managing injuries to several key defenders and are expected to field a unique away kit with grey socks, as requested by the Premier League, in their upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest.

As the dust settles on the Guehi transfer saga, both Manchester City and Crystal Palace are set for significant changes. City will hope that their new defensive recruit can hit the ground running and help them in their quest for more trophies, while Palace must begin planning for life after both their captain and their manager. With the Premier League season reaching its critical stages, the impact of this transfer could be felt well beyond the Etihad and Selhurst Park.

For now, all eyes turn to Old Trafford, where Manchester City face rivals Manchester United in a highly anticipated derby. Whether Guehi will make his debut in sky blue remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the January transfer window has delivered another headline-grabbing twist in the ever-dramatic world of English football.