Crystal Palace want to sell captain Marc Guehi knowing he won’t sign a new contract amid major interest from Liverpool, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.
The Eagles prefer to cash in on their captain rather than let him leave on a free transfer next summer, with interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United as well as the Merseyside club.
Any sale will help Palace fund a club-record move for Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who is availbale for between £40m and £50m this summer. The 21-year-old is in advanced talks with Palace, and there is some optimism of striking a deal, but several European clubs have also approached Sporting as well.
Sources: Crystal Palace Want £50m+ for Guehi
England star won’t sign a new deal
Palace are hoping for a fee in excess of £50m for Guehi, and are sticking to a high valuation for a player with 12 months left on his contract due to both the volume of interest and time left in the summer market.
Liverpool are considering a move for the 24-year-old England international, but suggestions a deal is close are wide of the mark. The Reds are yet to place a bid and have other defensive targets on their list as well. Jarrell Quansah’s expected departure to Bayer Leverkusen for north of €40m means there is more urgency to add another defender.
The long-term plan has always been to find an heir to Virgil van Dijk, and bring in that player while the Dutch international is still at the club, leading to a smooth transition. But Liverpool may also need a right-sided centre-back, given Ibrahima Konate has 12 months left on his current contract and the parties are not close to an extension to date.
Guehi is looking for instant game time, especially a year out from the World Cup, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can offer this.
Tottenham and Newcastle also retain an interest in Guehi, and he has been discussed by Arsenal as well. Spurs saw a £70m package rejected in January, and are considering making a lower offer this summer. A lot may depend on whether Cuti Romero is sold, with firm interest from Atletico Madrid
Newcastle bid around £65m last summer and also failed to reach an agreement with Palace. The Magpies are looking for a younger profile of centre-back to partner Sven Botman, despite Eddie Howe valuing Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles.
Guehi is understood to be reticent to join Arsenal should they make a move due to the established pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
There is a chance the Palace defender decides his best move is to stay at Selhurst Park until after the 2026 World Cup, or leaves his future up in the air until late in the window to assess all options. However, Palace would prefer an early sale and to use the funds to buy Diomande, should the Ivorian defender decide to join.
