'I've Heard' - Expert: Chelsea 'making offer' for 'world-class' player Liverpool are trying to sign
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(Credit: Imago)
Callum O'Connell
Wed 17 September 2025 8:00, UK
Chelsea are the latest Premier League club to join the race to sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi on a free transfer next summer.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Enzo Maresca sees the 25-year-old as an upgrade on his current options.
The centre-back left Stamford Bridge to join Crystal Palace for just £18million in 2021, and has since established himself as their club captain and a regular starter for England.
After Guehi’s deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed, he is expected to be available on a free transfer next summer, placing some of Europe’s biggest clubs on alert.
As a result, Guehi could decide to snub Liverpool in favour of a move elsewhere, with Chelsea joining the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in their interest.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 12 September that Man City are among the contenders to sign Guehi, with competition for his signature to hit new heights next summer.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted Chelsea are now prepared to beat their rivals to the “huge bargain” deal.
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“I was surprised Liverpool didn’t have more competition in the summer,” he told Football Insider.
“So now we’ve got all of these clubs interested in him and planning to make offers to him when he becomes available on a free, and that’s not a shock to anybody.
“He’s England’s first-choice centre-back and has years of experience in the Premier League, so he would improve whichever side end up getting him.
“Guehi has continuously showed what he can do both for Palace and for England, and it’s no surprise some of these elite clubs have been having a look at him now.
“It’s a huge bargain if you can get a player of Guehi’s quality on a free transfer.
“Chelsea are the latest team I’ve heard are looking to make a move because he came through their academy so that could be a bit of an advantage to them.
“The manager wants to improve his defensive options, so of course Guehi is going to be an option, but I expect they’ll have to wait until the end of the season rather than doing it in January.
“He would be an upgrade on the options they’ve got there at the moment, so it would be more of a surprise if they didn’t try to bring him in, to be honest.”
Crystal Palace had been keen to hang on to their captain throughout the summer and are unlikely to entertain January bids, sparking an open race for his signature next year.
Chelsea decided against pursuing Guehi in the summer despite Levi Colwill suffering a long-term injury which left them short of numbers at the back.
Maresca decided instead to prioritise alternative positions, with Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong seen as enough to keep the side stable, despite the club’s long-term admiration of the England defender.
However, Guehi has now emerged as one of their top targets to strengthen at the back, with the position still a priority given their current lack of depth.
Credit: Imago
He remains one of the most highly-rated defenders in the Premier League, with his England teammate Ezri Konsa labelling him “world-class” a year ago.
[BBC]
Maresca is believed to hold Guehi to the same standard, and could now move to beat rivals to the deal as he aims to improve upon his current options.
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