Manchester City Prapare £40m Bid for Crystal Palace Captain Marc Guehi Amid Intense Transfer Battle

Key Takeaways:

• Manchester City have initiated discussions for Marc Guehi, opening talks with Crystal Palace over a £40 million transfer fee
• Guehi, whose contract expires in six months, has attracted interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, as well as Liverpool
• Injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias have prompted City to intensify their pursuit of defensive reinforcements

City Intensify Pursuit of Marc Guehi

Manchester City have taken significant steps towards securing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, holding advanced discussions with both the player and his club as they aim to complete a major transfer this January. The England international is reportedly interested in making the move to the Etihad, and City have proposed a substantial financial package to outbid any competition, including potential offers he may receive as a free agent at the season’s end.

🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City advance on Marc Guehi deal as big approach has been made in the last 12h.

Manchester City presented important proposal to Guehi in terms of contract, eventually ready to proceed also with Crystal Palace.

Deal now closer with #MCFC. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/WLBka7ueqO

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 16, 2026

Crystal Palace’s Position and Transfer Dynamics

Crystal Palace are holding out for a fee close to £40 million for their skipper, whose current contract is set to expire in six months. Should Guehi depart in the summer without a contract renewal, he would forgo what is expected to be a sizeable signing-on bonus. The Eagles remain open to negotiations, but will require a replacement before sanctioning the sale. With Marc Guehi unwilling to agree to a fresh contract, this window represents Palace’s final opportunity to secure a transfer fee for the 25-year-old, who originally joined from Chelsea for £18 million in 2021. Notably, Chelsea retain a 20 per cent sell-on clause from the previous deal.

Competition and Squad Considerations

Manchester City are facing stiff competition, as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich have all expressed interest in the centre-back. Last summer, manager Oliver Glasner blocked a transfer to Liverpool on deadline day, but has recently indicated a willingness to facilitate a move this month. Meanwhile, it remains uncertain if Guehi will feature in Palace’s squad for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Sunderland on Saturday.

Defensive Reinforcements a Priority for Guardiola

The need for defensive reinforcements at Manchester City has become pressing following injuries sustained by Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias during their recent draw against Chelsea. In response, the club has recalled Max Alleyne from his loan spell at Watford, but Pep Guardiola is seeking more experienced cover as City continue their pursuit of the Premier League title in competition with Arsenal. The club have already invested £65 million this month, acquiring Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.