Crystal Palace star becomes leading transfer target for Manchester City | OneFootball

Crystal Palace and England international Marc Guehi has emerged as a leading transfer target for Manchester City, according to new reports.

The coming months are expected to bring a further period of change at the Etihad Stadium, particularly in defensive areas where long-serving figures and injury-prone options are beginning to raise questions about long-term planning.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s recruitment team are believed to have been mapping out future needs, with centre-back emerging as a key position for review ahead of the summer of 2026 when big decisions are due around John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji.

Guehi’s situation has naturally attracted widespread attention across the Premier League and Europe, with the Palace captain having developed into one of the most reliable defenders in English football, combining leadership with consistency at club level.

His calmness in possession and ability to defend large spaces make him an attractive option for sides that demand technical quality from the back, while Crystal Palace have so far managed to retain their captain despite heavy interest – most notably during a dramatic deadline day episode earlier this season involving Liverpool and a failed £35 million move.

Guehi was close to completing a move away from Selhurst Park to Anfield before Palace ownership ultimately sided with manager Oliver Glasner’s desire to keep hold of a central figure for the campaign ahead amid a struggle to source a suitable replacement in sufficient time.

Now, according to the information of The Times’ Paul Hirst and Ian Whittell, Marc Guehi has emerged as a ‘leading target’ for Manchester City as the club prepares for ‘an overhaul’ of their defensive set-up in the summer of 2026.

It is pointed out that Manchester City have monitored the 25-year-old closely over the past few years, since Guehi first caught the eye of former sporting director at the Etihad Stadium, Txiki Begiristain.

Interest from Manchester City in the Selhurst Park star has also been reported by the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski and MailSport’s Jack Gaughan.

Pep Guardiola had the opportunity to further assess Guehi’s qualities at the weekend, although the Englishman will certainly not have seen his image tarnished at the Etihad despite the 0-3 home defeat to Manchester City, particularly given the attacking qualities on show from the likes of Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Rayan Cherki.

Looking ahead, and with Marc Guehi set to become a free agent at the end of the season, the financial and sporting appeal of such a deal is obvious for those at the Etihad Stadium, particularly in a market where proven Premier League defenders command significant fees.

From Crystal Palace’s perspective, the coming months could prove decisive and the club may yet ambitiously attempt to convince their captain to commit his future for longer, though the scale of interest makes that task increasingly challenging – alongside the player’s clear message to his current employers that a contract renewal is not under consideration.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are expected to face competition should they formalise their pursuit. Whether Etihad officials move aggressively to secure Guehi’s signature early or wait until the summer of 2026 remains to be seen.