Marc Guehi is closing in on a move to Manchester City after the Premier League champions reportedly agreed a £20 million deal with Crystal Palace for the England defender.
The 25-year-old had attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Arsenal, with many monitoring his contract situation ahead of a possible free transfer in the summer. Manchester City, however, moved quickly and decisively, and the transfer is now expected to be completed before the end of the month.
If confirmed, Guehi would become City’s second major signing of the January window following the £65 million arrival of Antoine Semenyo. The club stepped up their pursuit after injuries to key defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol left Pep Guardiola short of options at the back.
While the move represents a major step in Guehi’s career, he is likely to face a small issue on arrival. The squad numbers he has worn most recently are already taken at City. Guehi wore number six throughout his time at Crystal Palace and previously used number five during his loan spell at Swansea City. At Manchester City, number five is currently worn by John Stones, while number six belongs to Nathan Ake.
There is some uncertainty surrounding both players beyond this season. Stones is in the final six months of his contract, while Ake has been linked with a possible move away, which could open the door for changes in the squad.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed that Guehi will not feature in their weekend match against Sunderland as talks continue. Speaking on Friday, Glasner said the deal was not yet complete but acknowledged that the defender’s situation had reached a point where he would not be involved.
If all goes to plan, Guehi is expected to be registered in time for Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Wolves next weekend. However, he will have to wait until the knockout stages of the Champions League to make his European debut for the club, as he is not included in City’s current squad list.
The move would mark Guehi’s return to a title-chasing side and could play a key role in City’s push to maintain momentum across competitions during the second half of the season.
