Manchester City Persuading Liverpool Target to Join in January

Manchester City are aggressively pursuing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in the January transfer window, aiming to hijack interest from Liverpool and other Premier League rivals. According to reports, City have opened talks and are prepared to make a significant proposal, matching rival bids to lure the 25-year-old England international despite his contract expiring this summer.[2][1]

Pep Guardiola's side is motivated by a defensive injury crisis, with key players like Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol sidelined, prompting an urgent need for reinforcement. City view Guehi as an ideal solution and believe they can negotiate a deal with Palace without issues if the player agrees. Palace, under Oliver Glasner, are now open to a sale for the right price—reportedly demanding between £30m-£40m—after previously blocking a late Liverpool bid last summer.[2][3][1]

Liverpool, currently fourth in the Premier League under Arne Slot, remain heavily interested and are "really pushing" for Guehi, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Reds recently signed young defender Mor Talla Ndiaye but may seek further defensive depth. However, Arsenal (with Mikel Arteta a fan), Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation. Guehi's preference has been to leave on a free transfer in the summer, but City's January push could force a decision.[1][2][3]

A £35m deal would represent value for City, pushing their net spend since January 2025 to around £470m after recent acquisitions like Antoine Semenyo. For Liverpool, waiting risks intensified competition, potentially leaving them vulnerable defensively in the title race. Palace may accept offers in the £30m-£35m range to secure a fee, making this a pivotal moment in the transfer saga.[2][1][3]

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