The January transfer window is heating up with a major defensive move set to dominate the headlines. Manchester City are in the final stages of securing a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, seeing off competition from several top clubs.
Guehi's Big Move to the Etihad
Pep Guardiola's side have moved decisively to address their defensive injury crisis, agreeing a deal in principle for the England international. Despite interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich, the 25-year-old centre-back is poised to join the Premier League champions.
The transfer, valued around £20 million, comes after Guehi was withdrawn from Palace's squad to face Sunderland on Saturday. This follows City's earlier £62.5 million capture of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. The move will take City's spending this season close to the half-billion pound mark.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the impending departure in a press conference on Friday, simultaneously announcing his own decision to leave the club at the season's end. Some negotiations are ongoing, with Palace initially holding out for a fee between £35-40 million for the defender, who is out of contract this summer.
Manchester United's January Strategy
Across Manchester, United have rejected multiple offers for defender Harry Maguire. According to reports, inquiries have arrived from several Premier League clubs and Italian giants AC Milan. Despite Maguire's contract expiring in the summer, new head coach Michael Carrick is adamant the experienced defender remains part of his plans at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are actively looking to strengthen their squad before the window closes. Their midfield shortlist is understood to include Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Atlético Madrid's Marcos Llorente, and Newcastle's Elliot Anderson—a player also admired by Manchester City. To bolster their defence, the club are considering a move for Nottingham Forest's highly-rated Brazilian, Murillo.
Paqueta Pushes for West Ham Exit
Elsewhere in the Premier League, West Ham United face a battle to keep hold of playmaker Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian midfielder is keen on a return to his homeland and personal terms have reportedly been agreed with Flamengo. However, Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate to retain his key man as the club fights to avoid relegation.
This follows an incident last weekend where Paqueta reportedly asked to be left out of West Ham's FA Cup tie against QPR to facilitate a move away. The Athletic claims the London club have already rejected one bid for the midfielder.
In a separate major development, Chelsea have reportedly tabled a significant offer for Real Madrid's dynamic midfielder Federico Valverde and retain an interest in Paqueta should his move to Brazil collapse.
What Happens Next?
With the January window now in its crucial final fortnight, the domino effect of Guehi's move could trigger further activity. Manchester City's defensive reinforcements are a direct response to injuries to Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones. For Manchester United, holding firm on Maguire suggests a focus on strategic additions rather than a squad clear-out under Carrick.
The situation surrounding Lucas Paqueta remains fluid and could be one of the sagas of the window, highlighting the tension between player ambition and club necessity in a relegation scrap. All eyes will be on whether these principle agreements are finalised and what ripple effects they create across the Premier League and Europe.
