Here’s a bombshell for football fans: Manchester City is on the brink of sealing a £20 million deal for Crystal Palace’s star defender, Marc Guéhi, and it’s sending shockwaves through the Premier League. But here’s where it gets controversial—Palace initially demanded a staggering £40 million for their captain, leaving many to wonder if City is getting a bargain or if Palace is settling for less than they deserve. Let’s dive into the details.
Manchester City is reportedly close to finalizing personal terms with Guéhi, 25, who is in the final six months of his contract. The deal, spanning five-and-a-half years, comes as Pep Guardiola’s side desperately seeks defensive reinforcements. With John Stones sidelined long-term, Josko Gvardiol nursing a fractured leg, and Rúben Dias out with a hamstring injury, City’s backline is in crisis. Guardiola himself admitted, ‘Without John, without Ruben, without Josko, we are in a difficult situation—not just for one game, but for a long, long period.’
And this is the part most people miss—City is willing to compensate Guéhi for the financial hit he’d take by joining them now instead of leaving Palace as a free agent this summer. Notably, Guéhi won’t feature in Palace’s squad for their Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday, fueling speculation that the move is imminent.
The saga took an unexpected turn when Palace head coach Oliver Glasner—who recently announced his departure at the end of the season—hinted that selling Guéhi might be unavoidable. Glasner had previously intervened to block a £35 million move to Liverpool on deadline day in September, even as Guéhi was undergoing a medical in London. Now, with Glasner openly expressing frustration over his squad’s depth, it seems Palace’s stance has softened.
Here’s the kicker: Palace won’t even pocket the full £20 million from the transfer. Thanks to a clause in Guéhi’s 2021 move from Chelsea, they must pay 20% of the profit to the Blues. Meanwhile, Liverpool—who had planned to sign Guéhi on a free transfer this summer—are now left empty-handed after refusing to pay a fee in January. With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konaté’s contracts expiring soon, Liverpool’s defensive woes are far from over.
Guéhi’s stock has soared since winning the Community Shield with Palace in August, where they famously defeated Liverpool. Now, as City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich join the race for his signature, the question remains: Is this transfer a masterstroke for City, or a missed opportunity for Palace and Liverpool?
What do you think? Is £20 million a fair price for Guéhi, or should Palace have held out for more? And is City’s defensive crisis enough to justify this mid-season move? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over!
