Manchester City open talks to sign Marc Guehi for £35m in January

Goal reports Manchester City have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this month and are prepared to meet the club’s £35 million valuation rather than wait for his contract to expire in the summer.

City are moving quickly to avoid a crowded summer auction for the England international, who has less than six months left on his deal and could otherwise leave on a free transfer. The champions are reported to be ready to pay the fee as part of an immediate defensive overhaul under Pep Guardiola, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among sides said to have registered interest.

Guehi, 25, had earlier preferred to see out his Selhurst Park contract after a near-move to Liverpool was blocked last August by Palace manager Oliver Glasner, but he is now understood to be open to a mid-season switch. That change of stance follows Palace’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to sixth-tier Macclesfield, when Guehi was pictured engaging with travelling supporters and was led away by security.

If completed, the £35m fee would give Palace a windfall rather than losing the player for nothing in the summer and would add to City’s heavy recent spending — their net spend since 1 January 2025 is said to be about £470m and they recently signed Antoine Semenyo for £65m — but it is not yet known whether Palace will accept an offer or rivals will intervene before the January window closes.

Key Topics

Sports, Marc Guehi, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Pep Guardiola, Antoine Semenyo