City Sets Sights on Guehi: January Target Emerges Amid Defensive Woes
5 January 2026
City eye Guehi as defensive injuries bite
Manchester City have stepped up their January pursuit of Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace's 25-year-old defender.
BBC Sport reports City are seriously weighing a move to sign the England international center-back after injuries to Josko Gavardiol and Ruben Dias during Sunday's Premier League draw with Chelsea.
City already miss English defender John Stones, sidelined by injury.
Sources tell BBC Sport that interest in Guehi has grown and a January deal cannot be ruled out.
The 25-year-old's contract runs until summer, and he is expected to depart Selhurst Park as a free agent, though City’s rising interest could alter that course.
Palace have drawn interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in a potential free transfer.
Under transfer rules, Guehi may sign a pre-contract with a new club from this month.
Guehi was close to joining Liverpool for £35 million last summer, but Palace blocked the deal in the final hours of the window.
Palace are considering selling Guehi this month to avoid losing their captain for free at season's end.
Punchline: If Guehi signs for free, City’s defense will finally be as affordable as my last joke was funny. Punchline 2: With Guehi in the frame, City might finally have a backline that doesn’t need a bailout from the coffee budget.
