Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is reportedly leaning towards a specific transfer outcome as interest grows from Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
The England defender is widely expected to move either in January or at the end of the season, with his current Palace contract entering its final months. Several top clubs are tracking his situation closely as a result.
Liverpool came close to securing Guehi last summer, only for a proposed £35 million deal to collapse on deadline day. Palace were unable to line up a replacement in time, which ultimately scuppered the move.
As a result, Guehi remains available and Liverpool now face stiff competition if they want to land him this year. A new centre back is seen as a priority at Anfield, but the club would ideally prefer to wait and sign him on a free transfer, a stance that could leave them vulnerable.
Manchester City are believed to be exploring a different approach. Pep Guardiola’s side are short of options in defence due to the absences of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, prompting consideration of a January move that would involve a transfer fee.
Bayern Munich have also been linked, with German journalist Florian Plettenberg reporting that Palace would demand between £35 million and £40 million for Guehi this month. Writing on X, Plettenberg stated that City are weighing up whether to make an offer, but added that the player currently prefers to leave on a free transfer in the summer. Bayern, Liverpool and Arsenal are all said to be monitoring the situation with that scenario in mind.
Further insight has been provided by journalist Dean Jones, who reports that Manchester City have yet to receive any clear signal that Guehi would welcome a switch to the Etihad Stadium. There is an internal concern that an approach could be turned down.
City are understood to be willing to offer around £25 million if they receive encouragement, while also considering alternative deal structures to reduce the gap between their valuation and Palace’s demands. A swap arrangement has been mentioned as a possibility, although sources remain doubtful about Guehi agreeing to move midway through the season.
Those close to the player are said to believe he is unlikely to approve a January transfer. A mid season move would reportedly see Guehi command wages of around £250,000 per week, placing him among City’s highest earners. Even so, the option of running down his contract and choosing his next club freely has long been viewed as his preferred route.
For now, Palace remain firm on their valuation, City are weighing their options and Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern are watching closely as Guehi edges closer to a defining decision in his career.