JAKARTA - Manchester City took a sensational step towards an instant solution by snapping up Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the winter transfer window. Previously Guehi had been a target for Liverpool and Barcelona. Even Bayern Munich were interested in signing him.
Pep Guardiola's instant solution as Man City competed with Arsenal for the English Premier League title. Yes, when Man City experienced a crisis in the center of the back after the injuries suffered by Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias earlier this month, Guardiola had to immediately find a replacement.
Gvardiol suffered a fracture of the fibula bone which took a long time to heal. He is predicted to have to end the competition sooner. Even Gvardiol is doubtful of being able to appear at the 2026 World Cup with Croatia because it is estimated that he has not recovered from his injury.
Meanwhile, Dias suffered a hamstring injury when Man City drew 1-1 against Chelsea at the Etihad. The injury forced the Portugal national team defender to be absent until February. This makes the Cityzens experience a crisis in the backfield because they have lost John Stones and Nathan Ake.
Guardiola finally called up Max Alleyne who was loaned to Watford. The 20-year-old defender has also duetted with Abdukodir Khusanov. However, Guardiola still needs an experienced defender and in order to meet the request, Man City immediately completed the transaction with Palace for the purchase of Guehi.
Palace will indeed release the 25-year-old defender whose contract will expire this season. There is no contract extension because Guehi has been targeted by Liverpool and Barca. In addition, Bayern showed interest in the England national team defender.
They are vying for Guehi who is already a free transfer status. This makes these top European clubs compete for high contracts because they don't have to spend money on player transfers.
Liverpool themselves actually wanted Guehi at the start of the competition season. At that time Liverpool had offered a price of 35 million pounds. However, Palace manager Oliver Glasner asked for a price of 40 million which ended without an agreement. Palace is actually willing to reduce the price to 20 million pounds plus bonuses and other clauses.
Only Liverpool canceled the purchase and chose to wait for the defender who has played 33 times with Palace and scored seven goals this season to end his contract. Likewise, Bayern and Barca are waiting for Guehi until the end of this season.
But their wait was in vain as Man City came to Palace with transfer money. According to The Sun, Man City agreed to a price of 20 million pounds plus bonuses.
Guehi's sale also benefits Chelsea as it will receive a fee of 20% as part of the player's transfer when he was brought from Stamford Bridge in 2021.
Guehi will also undergo a medical test at Man City. This is what made him not included by Glasner when Palace faced Sunderland in the Premier Leaague match this weekend.
If he officially joins Man City, Guehi will be the second signing made by the club in the winter transfer market after Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Semenyo has immediately shown his sharpness by scoring in the first two matches with Man City.
The question is, if Guehi comes to Etihad, the back line, especially in the heart of the defense, Man City will be more crowded. This is because there are seven central defenders, Dias, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake and Stones, plus Guehi.
However, Guardiola has no choice but to pile on the central defenders to keep up with Arsenal. Moreover, Man City is still in the Champions League, FA Cup and has the chance to reach the English League Cup final. Guardiola hopes to bring home the trophy after a total failure last season.
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