Crystal Palace target loan move for Manchester City star – Potential for Marc Guehi impact | OneFootball

Manchester City may have found a route to reducing the price they could have to pay to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this month through an outgoing loan switch.

The possibility of player movement in the opposite direction introduces a fresh dynamic into negotiations that have already been shaped by financial leverage and the defender’s preference regarding how he departs Selhurst Park.

City’s interest in Guehi has been consistent, despite reports around whether a January deal is realistic or whether the move is more likely to materialise in the summer on a free, while Guardiola’s admission that he “doesn’t know” if further business will be done this month reflects both the complexity of the deal and number of moving parts.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have remained firm in public with Oliver Glasner repeatedly stressing that only a “massive offer” combined with a clear desire from the player to leave would force the club into action.

However, with City now actively ‘pushing to change the landscape’ of the deal, as previously reported by Sam Lee, the inclusion of a loan agreement for one of their own players could provide a compromise that satisfies all parties.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Crystal Palace want to sign Oscar Bobb on loan from the Etihad Stadium, in a switch that could play a role in reducing the asking price for Marc Guehi – which is now expected to be below £30 million.

It is further reported that Guehi is being offered as much as £20 million to run down the remainder of his Palace contract, while City are willing to make him one of their highest-paid players to offset some of the hit on a signing bonus.

From the side of the player, it is claimed that the England international would also ideally like to secure a transfer fee for Palace, as opposed to leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Such a development would reflect Manchester City’s willingness to be flexible in negotiations with their counterparts in South London, amid a target for a deal closer to £20–25 million, and Palace reluctant to drop too far from a previous £30–35 million expectation.

Much will also depend on how strongly Crystal Palace pursue Oscar Bobb and whether Manchester City view his temporary departure as acceptable given their own squad planning.

With Antoine Semenyo now signed and defensive injuries still shaping recruitment priorities, City may decide that creative deal-making is the most effective route to finally landing Marc Guehi in January rather than risking losing him to a rival or waiting until the summer.