Marc Guehi has been one of the most sought-after centre-backs in the Premier League for the past three years. However, Crystal Palace have always rejected any offers to recruit their captain from top teams.
That determination was rewarded in return, with Guehi leading Palace to the FA Cup final and winning their first major trophy since a resounding win over Manchester City in May.
Recently, Guehi once again stepped up the Wembley threshold, lifting the English Super Cup title after Palace's surprise victory over Liverpool on penalties. However, just a few minutes later, fans realized that it could be the last time they saw Guehi wearing the Palace shirt.
Liverpool have submitted many proposals but have been rejected. Palace president Steve Parish admitted that the team will eventually have to accept a reasonable offer, avoiding the England international entering the final year of his contract and leaving on a free transfer.
"Of course, we have to. It is a pity that such a classy player leaves on a free transfer, which is a big problem for us," the Palace president admitted.
Parish's comments could urge Liverpool to return to negotiations, while sending a message to other teams. One of the best centre-backs in England, even the top in Europe, has officially emerged in the transfer market. And the name that needs most attention right now is Man City.
The Citizens have signed five new signings this summer, but none of them have really solved last season's biggest problem: a fragile defence.
It is true that Rayan Ait-Nouri plays as a left-back, but he stands out in his attacking ability rather than his defense. And his presence will probably strengthen the attack more than improve the back line.
Last season, City conceded 44 Premier League goals - their worst since the 2009-10 season, the last campaign they did not qualify for the Champions League. A loose defense not only contributed to their third-place finish, but was also an important factor in the failure in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's team conceded 14 goals in just 8 Champions League group stage matches, including 3 goals in 15 minutes against Feyenoord and 4 goals in the second half against Paris Saint-Germain. They then continued to lose to Real Madrid with a score of 2-3 and 1-3, their earliest elimination from the tournament since the 2012-13 season, with an average of 2 goals conceded per match.
Man City spent £63 million on central defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in January, but both deals have not delivered the expected results.
Reis was withdrawn in the first half of his debut match against Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and only made one more appearance in the fifth round against Plymouth Argyle. He also featured at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, before being sent to Girona on loan.
Meanwhile, Khusanov had a shaky debut against Chelsea. Despite showing some progress in the following matches, the centre-back was completely left out of Guardiola's squad for the last two months of the season.
Both Khusanov and Reis are long-term projects, unlikely to bring immediate improvement to help Man City compete for the Premier League title or go deep in the Champions League next season.
In contrast, Guehi is an immediately available centre-back, familiar with the Premier League beat and regularly feature for England. His Palace contract also means that the fee will not be much different from the two young talents mentioned above.
Liverpool once submitted a £40 million offer but were rejected. The £45 million price is considered enough to convince Palace to release him. And it would be a big mistake for Man City not to step in to "rob" this deal, bringing Guehi to the Etihad.
