Fabrizio Romano issues bumper update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Marc Guehi | OneFootball

Manchester City have stepped up their pursuit of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi in the wake of a personnel crisis in defence, as per a new report.

Pep Guardiola saw Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol come off with injuries in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea a week ago, with the former to be out for at least another month with a hamstring injury and the latter only expected to return after April after suffering a tibial fracture in his right leg.

City are six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who failed to establish a greater lead at the top of the table in midweek after drawing to Liverpool at home – 24 hours after Guardiola’s side were held to a third successive draw in as many games in 2026 by Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Blues are fighting for silverware on multiple fronts but after being held in succession against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton in the last 10 days, doubts have surfaced over City’s prospects in the title race against a formidable Arsenal side in pole position to win the Premier League title in May.

City announced the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £64 million on Friday morning, strengthening their attacking ranks as Omar Marmoush represents Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Blues continue to rely heavily on Erling Haaland in the final third.

In the wake of injuries to Dias and Gvardiol – who are Guardiola’s preferred centre-back partnership – executives at the Etihad Stadium have intensified their pursuit of reinforcements in defence amid a strong interest in Crystal Palace and England star Marc Guehi.

City face competition in the form of Arsenal and Liverpool for the 25-year-old defender, who will leave Crystal Palace on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season unless a January exit materialises – an outcome Palace are believed to favour for financial reasons.

Speaking in a recent episode on his YouTube channel, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has issued a major update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Guehi, who is understood to be attracted by the idea of working with Guardiola.

“Man City want the deal to happen now, Man City are prepared to bid to Crystal Palace and try to reach an agreement with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi,” said Romano.

“City believe it would not be a problem to reach a financial agreement with Crystal Palace for the defender. The real crucial point here is the player.

“Man City are negotiating with the agents of Marc Guehi – and now Guehi has to decide because the original plan for the defender has always been, ‘Let’s move in the summer. Complete the season at Palace and then move in the summer transfer window on a free’.

“It’s a better contract and the opportunity to decide whatever he wants in terms of the club, so to take his time and not having to negotiate club to club on anything. But Man City want him now, Man City want to jump into it in a very strong way, and Man City believe again that reaching an agreement with Palace would not be a problem.

“So it’s on the player’s side now to decide what he wants to do; go to City immediately, or maybe wait for a different opportunity with Liverpool and more clubs keen eventually on Marc Guehi.

“So that’s going to be a really big story in the upcoming days and weeks with a decision expected soon by Marc Guehi – together with his agents.”

Despite having re-called academy star Max Alleyne from loan at Watford last week, City need to bolster their backline to sustain their aspirations for silverware as the season progresses and Guehi would represent another major mid-season coup for the Blues after Semenyo.