Report: Manchester City not prepared to wait in defender chase | OneFootball

Manchester City push for Marc Guehi as January logic bends again

Manchester City are preparing to test both patience and precedent in their pursuit of Marc Guehi, with talks already under way to force through a January deal. As reported by The Independent, City’s intent is clear. They want the Crystal Palace captain now, despite every structural incentive pointing towards a summer move.

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Guehi’s contract expires at the end of the season and his original preference had been to wait. That delay would have opened a broader marketplace, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and most of the Premier League’s elite circling. Arsenal were among those monitoring closely, while Liverpool came close on deadline day in August before Palace resistance hardened.

Palace leverage tested by City urgency

That resistance remains. Palace, under Oliver Glasner, have previously valued Guehi at around £35m and have little sporting incentive to weaken mid season. Yet City are prepared to meet competing offers and are confident the player himself is open to the move.

For City, this is about control rather than thrift. If they secure Guehi for around £35m, it would push their net spend since January 2025 to approximately £470m, a figure sharpened by the recent £65m capture of Antoine Semenyo.

Guardiola context and financial gravity

Semenyo’s debut only reinforced City’s sense of momentum, a goal and man of the match performance in a 10-1 FA Cup dismantling of Exeter City. Under Pep Guardiola, squad planning has become increasingly proactive, even aggressive, particularly when defensive depth is perceived as fragile.

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Any January movement could also distort the summer market. With Guehi free to discuss terms, City’s willingness to act now may force rivals into earlier, richer commitments than they intended.

Weekend pressure sharpens narrative

The timing is uncomfortable. Guehi endured a turbulent FA Cup weekend as Palace suffered a historic 2-1 defeat to Macclesfield, followed by tense exchanges with travelling supporters. Images of him addressing fans behind the goal, before security intervened, only intensified speculation.

Whether coincidence or catalyst, City sense an opening.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Manchester City fans see a squad that has dominated for years but is now adapting to new physical and tactical demands. Guehi represents reliability, leadership and Premier League certainty, not a gamble.

Supporters will acknowledge the spending figures but argue context matters. City are not buying potential here, they are buying assurance. With multiple competitions stretching the squad, fans want solutions that remove risk rather than defer it to the summer.

There is also confidence in Guardiola’s judgement. If City are willing to distort the market in January, supporters assume a specific need has been identified. The concern is not cost, but timing. Fans want clarity that this move strengthens the back line immediately, not simply positions the club ahead of rivals. If that box is ticked, few at the Etihad will complain.