Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is edging closer to a move to Manchester City, with talks over his departure now at an advanced stage.
The Premier League champions have moved decisively to beat competition from fellow English heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool for the England defender, whose contract at Selhurst Park was due to run out at the end of the season. City’s swift approach has placed them firmly in pole position to seal the deal.
Personal terms between Guéhi and Manchester City have already been agreed upon, removing one of the biggest hurdles in the transfer. Discussions over a transfer fee with Crystal Palace are expected to follow, as both clubs look to finalize the move in the coming days.
A clear sign that the transfer is close is Guéhi’s omission from Palace’s travelling squad for Saturday’s clash with Sunderland, as the Eagles attempt to snap a worrying nine-game winless streak across all competitions, including six Premier League matches.
The impending move comes months after Guéhi’s dramatic near-exit last summer. On deadline day, Crystal Palace pulled the plug on a proposed £35 million transfer to Liverpool after failing to secure a replacement, despite the defender having already completed his medical with the Merseyside club.
While Liverpool retained an interest in the center-back, they were unwilling to match City’s urgency or meet the expected fee in January, preferring instead to wait for the possibility of signing him on a free in the summer.
Manchester City’s aggressive push, however, appears to have settled the matter, with Guéhi now on the verge of taking the next major step in his career under Pep Guardiola.