Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi after agreeing an initial £20m fee for the England centre-back. The deal also includes a sell-on clause, with final details still being negotiated between the two clubs.
Guéhi, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has attracted interest from several Premier League and European sides, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. However, City have moved fastest and are now closest to completing the transfer, offering Palace a guaranteed fee rather than waiting for a free move in the summer.
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner confirmed the defender is on the verge of leaving and will not feature against Sunderland this weekend. “My latest understanding is that a deal with Marc is in the final stages,” Glasner said. “I can’t confirm a club because it’s still not done, but it’s in the final stages. The result is that Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us.”
City’s urgency has been driven by injuries to key defenders Josko Gvardiol and Rúben Dias, both sustained in the recent draw with Chelsea. The situation has been compounded by John Stones’ continued absence, with the 31-year-old not having played since early December. Guardiola previously admitted that Stones’ contract future depended on his fitness, and Guéhi’s arrival could further reduce his chances of regular minutes.
The champions have already spent £65m this month on Antoine Semenyo, underlining their willingness to act decisively in the market as they attempt to stay in the title race. Palace, meanwhile, are keen to secure a fee now, especially with Chelsea entitled to a percentage of any future sale.
Guéhi nearly joined Liverpool last summer in a £35m move that collapsed on deadline day, but City now appear set to win the race. If the remaining details are resolved, the 25-year-old could complete his move to the Etihad in the coming days, marking one of the most significant defensive transfers of the January window.
