Marc Guehi’s Future at Crystal Palace: Potential Transfer Amid Increased Interest

Marc Guehi joined Crystal Palace from Chelsea in 2021.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has stated that the club would consider selling captain Marc Guehi this month if the right price is offered. The England defender’s contract is set to expire in the summer, and Manchester City has emerged as a potential suitor during the January transfer window.

Last summer, Palace declined a proposed £35 million transfer to Liverpool but now faces the risk of losing the 25-year-old for free at the end of the season. City’s interest in Guehi has intensified following injuries to defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias during their recent match against Chelsea.

“I’m not naive,” Glasner remarked, as reported by the Athletic and the Times. “If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to pursue it, it will happen.”

In addition to Manchester City, several European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid, have expressed interest in signing Guehi on a free transfer. He is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club starting this month.

“If we’re solely assessing sports, everyone at the club will agree that Marc should remain,” Glasner noted. “The chairman would echo the same sentiment. However, the situation is not one-dimensional. Given the financial context, this consideration is crucial. If an appropriate offer arises, there may come a point where the club prioritizes financial concerns over sporting ones.”

“There will be a threshold where the club must decide if a sale is in order, provided Marc expresses a desire to leave, as the final decision ultimately rests with the player.”

Guehi played a pivotal role in helping Palace secure a 12th-place finish last season and win the FA Cup, which enabled the club to qualify for European competition for the first time in its history. The Eagles also clinched the Community Shield in August, triumphing over Premier League champions Liverpool in a penalty shootout, and currently sit 14th in the league while advancing to the knockout stage of the UEFA Conference League.

“The chairman turned down numerous offers last summer because we aimed for a successful season and wanted to win the Community Shield,” Glasner added. “Consequently, Marc’s contribution was deemed vital, leading to the rejection of those offers. At that time, the threshold we established in terms of financial value was not met, although it may have been close.”