Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is reportedly leaning towards a transfer to either Arsenal or Liverpool, with Manchester City appearing to be his least favoured option among the Premier League giants vying for his signature.
Contract Countdown and Managerial Admission
The future of the 25-year-old England international is one of the major talking points of the January transfer window. Guehi's current deal at Selhurst Park is set to expire in the summer of 2026, placing Palace in a delicate position.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner has openly conceded that the club captain could be sold this month if a suitable offer is tabled. "I'm not so naive not to know that if a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen," Glasner stated this week, highlighting the financial realities facing the club.
Premier League Trio in the Race
Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all understood to be monitoring the centre-back's situation closely. City's interest has been heightened by injuries to key defenders Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones.
However, according to reports from The Athletic's Sam Lee on the Let Me Talk podcast, the Etihad Stadium may not be Guehi's preferred destination. "I was told... he thinks Guehi wants to stay until the summer and he prefers Liverpool [to City] in any case," Lee revealed. This information was corroborated by a separate source who indicated the defender's preference extends to both Liverpool and Arsenal over the reigning champions.
Summer Saga and Current Stance
Liverpool came close to signing Guehi last summer, having a bid of £35 million plus £5 million in add-ons accepted by Palace. The deal, however, collapsed on transfer deadline day. Palace are reportedly confident of securing a similar fee in the current window.
Arsenal, who currently lead the Premier League, also held an interest last year but ultimately signed other defensive prospects. It remains unclear whether Mikel Arteta's side will make a January move or wait until the summer when Guehi would be available on a free transfer.
The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether Guehi secures a big-money move this month or sees out the final months of his contract, with a summer transfer battle between England's top clubs looking increasingly likely.
