Manchester City are weighing up a January move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, with the Premier League champions facing a defensive injury crisis. The south London club are expected to demand a fee in the region of £40 million for their highly-rated centre-back.
Defensive Blow Sparks City's Interest
The urgency for Pep Guardiola stems from a double injury blow sustained during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Josko Gvardiol suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg and is set for surgery, while fellow defender Rúben Dias also picked up a knock. With John Stones already sidelined, and concerns over Nathan Aké's physical robustness, City's defensive ranks have been severely depleted.
This has prompted the club's hierarchy to target Guéhi, a 25-year-old England international who is a first-choice under Gareth Southgate. The potential £40m price tag represents a £5m increase on the sum Liverpool were prepared to pay last summer, when the Eagles captain came close to a £35m move to Anfield.
Contract Situation and Suitor Competition
Complicating any potential deal is Guéhi's contractual status. His current deal at Selhurst Park expires in the close season, meaning he could leave as a free agent in June. A move now would see him forfeit a significant signing-on fee, and as a key player for England, he needs assurances of consistent playing time ahead of this summer's World Cup.
Manchester City are not alone in their admiration for the defender. Liverpool retain a strong interest, while European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also understood to be monitoring his situation. This widespread appeal underscores Guéhi's development into one of the Premier League's most reliable defenders.
Palace's Stance and the Road Ahead
For Crystal Palace, the increased valuation reflects the significant disruption his mid-season departure would cause to their campaign, as well as the cost and difficulty of securing an adequate replacement. Losing their captain and defensive linchpin in January would be a major blow to their season's objectives.
City have confirmed Gvardiol's injury, stating: "The defender will have surgery later this week and assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the club wishes Josko a speedy recovery." All eyes are now on whether Guardiola's side will formalise their interest with a bid for Marc Guéhi to address their sudden defensive shortage.
