Liverpool, Chelsea or Newcastle: Who signs Marc Guehi after Steve Parish’s exit admission?
Marc Guehi will be weighing up his options ahead of a move away from Crystal Palace after chairman Steve Parish’s admission following their Community Shield victory.
Palace beat Liverpool on penalties at Wembley following a 2-2 draw in the 90 minutes to clinch the trophy.
Guehi captained the side and remains at the heart of their defence despite the 25-year-old having only one year left on his contract at the club and uncertainty remaining over his future.
Following the victory, Parish admitted that Palace were looking to sell Guehi, as per The Guardian [11 August], to avoid letting him go on a free next summer with Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle having all expressed previous interest.
Here we take a look at the three main contenders to land the England international before the close of the transfer window.
Guehi set for Crystal Palace exit after Community Shield victory
Liverpool
The Reds sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen and they have yet to sort fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate’s future, with the Liverpool defender linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Arne Slot could therefore require a new central defender and Guehi has been linked with a move to Anfield.
Liverpool though are reluctant to meet Crystal Palace’s £40million asking price, as per The Guardian [30 July], although that fee could drop if the London club are desperate to sell while they can.
| Apperances | 156 |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 4 |
Slot clearly wants to add another forward to his ranks first, with Liverpool having a bid rejected for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and the Reds could now turn to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Newcastle
Newcastle had multiple bids rejected from Crystal Palace last summer for Guehi, and the Toon have now sorted a new defender.
Malick Thiaw has agreed to move to Newcastle, and the 24-year-old looks set to become their third signing of the window.
Newcastle decided against pursuing Giorgio Scalvini, whose injury record and high asking price put the club off a deal.
Newcastle have been struggling to sign players this summer and need to prioritise a striker amid the ongoing Isak saga and the decision to let Callum Wilson leave following the expiry of his contract.
Chelsea
Chelsea have made a decision on Guehi and are said to be “prioritising other transfer targets” even with a long-term injury to Levi Colwill, who suffered an ACL injury and is expected to miss the majority of the season.
Manager Enzo Maresca will therefore be keeping an eye on the Guehi situation, and Chelsea could lose defender Tosin Adarabioyo who has been offered in a swap deal for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers.
Guehi came through the youth ranks at Chelsea, and the Blues sold him to Palace in 2021.
Potentially returning to Stamford Bridge after four years at Palace, Guehi now has the leadership skills, Premier League experience and ball playing ability to be a success in the Chelsea side as the Blues look to make a greater title charge this season.
The verdict: Chelsea to beat Newcastle to Guehi
Guehi is wanted by three of the Premier League’s biggest club’s and all of them can offer the defender Champions League football.
Newcastle have an ageing defence and even with the expected arrival of Thiaw, Eddie Howe could still do with younger bodies at the back.
If the Toon sell Isak then they will have the funds to sign Guehi, whatever the price, but the club insist he is not for sale which could impact incoming signings the club wish to make.
Guehi would also be a guaranteed starter at St James’ where as at Liverpool his place in the starting line-up would depend on the future of Konate.
Slot is not currently focused on signing a new centre-back and Liverpool would like the asking price for the England international to drop.
Chelsea are not short of options in centre-back position and have recently signed Ajax’s Jorrel Hato to add further depth.
The injury to Colwill though must concern Maresca if his side want to become title challengers, so the arrival of Guehi would be welcome and Chelsea have the funds to complete a deal.
Guehi would likely prefer a move to either Newcastle or Chelsea to be able to start week in week out in a World Cup year and out of the two club’s Chelsea are in the best financial position to beat Newcastle to the signing.