Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is close to joining Manchester City in a deal worth around £30m, according to sources. Pep Guardiola has intensified his pursuit of the England defender as the January transfer window enters its final days.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Friday that Guehi’s move is in its ‘final stages’. The 25-year-old will miss the Eagles' weekend match against Sunderland as negotiations continue. Glasner said: 'My latest understanding is that the deal with Marc is in the final stages... I cannot confirm the club, because it's still not done, but in the final stages, and the result is that Marc doesn't play tomorrow for us.'
City's urgency stems from an injury crisis that has ruled out Ruben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, and John Stones. Guardiola views Guehi as a vital addition to salvage their Premier League title hopes, with the club also having signed Antoine Semenyo for £64m earlier this month.
Guehi has only six months left on his Palace contract and has refused to extend after a deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed last summer. City were initially expected to pursue him as a free agent this summer, but have brought forward their interest after learning of his availability.
Despite Palace’s initial £40m asking price, City are confident of securing a deal well below that valuation. The fee would be unprecedented for a player with a half-year remaining on his contract, but the club is offering a larger salary to reflect what Guehi could have commanded as a free agent.
