From Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City open talks over Marc Guehi transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City have now opened talks over potentially completing a move to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this month, it has been reported.

Pep Guardiola was handed a double injury blow in Sunday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Chelsea as Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias were substituted with injuries in the second-half, with City losing further ground a title race against Arsenal.

The Blues are close to signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth to kickstart the January transfer window, though recent developments are likely to see Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana make further investment in the market.

Gvardiol is expected to be ruled out for upto five months after Manchester City confirmed on Monday that the 23-year-old Croatia international has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg and will undergo surgery later in the week.

Dias is understood to have suffered a muscle injury as well, with no certain indication of how long the 28-year-old could be out for as Manchester City draw contingency plans to bolster a depleted backline – a hallmark of their frailties from the 2024-25 season.

With John Stones and Nathan Ake rarely reliable from a fitness standpoint – whilst the latter continues to be linked with a January exit – Manchester City have recalled talented academy graduate Max Alleyne from a season-long loan at Watford to strengthen their options in defence for the second half of the season.

Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to play a much greater role in the remainder of the season, though executives at the Etihad Stadium have decided to enter the transfer market for reinforcements as they vie for silverware on multiple fronts.

According to the information of Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City want to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in January, with talks having started and an initial approach made by those at the Etihad Stadium.

Elsewhere, it is pointed out that Liverpool are also attentive to the situation and have been in ongoing talks over a move for the England international since August, while Bayern Munich have remained in active talks to sign Guehi as a free agent in the summer.

Guehi saw a dream move to Liverpool break down last summer when he was believed to have begun his medical but got a call back from Crystal Palace that a transfer could not materialise, with the 25-year-old cracking on with no hangups and starring for the Eagles in defence this term.

The Ivory Coast born centre-half will be leaving the south London club when his current deal expires at the end of the season, though Palace will prefer a January sale to avoid losing one of their most prized assets on a free transfer.

Crystal Palace are understood to value Guehi over £35 million, though Manchester City are believed to be only willing to offer a sum below that figure, with just six months left on the Englishman’s current deal at Selhurst Park.