Man City 'begin Marc Guehi talks' as Crystal Palace braced for first bid | OneFootball

Eagles have confirmed the defender could be sold this month

Manchester City are advancing with a deal to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to reports.

Palace had agreed a £35million fee with Liverpool in the final hours of the summer transfer window, only to pull the plug before the deadline.

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Liverpool were expected to return for Guehi at the end of the season, with Arsenal also linked, but City are serious contenders to sign him during the January transfer window.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City have made a “big approach” to Guehi with an “important contract” offer, before discussing a fee with Palace.

Palace hope to keep Guehi for the rest of the season, and are prepared to lose him for nothing in the summer.

Sky Germany report that Palace want around £35m to sell this month, but City believe £30m will suffice.

Guehi had a summer medical with Liverpool before the move was cancelled

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Eagles manager Oliver Glasner - also out of contract in the summer - admitted earlier this week that the defender will be sold if his asking price is met.

"I'm not naive,” Glasner said. "If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen."

He added: “Everyone in the club will say Marc has to stay. The chairman will tell you the same. But it's not one-dimensional. If you see the financial situation, it's very important.

"If somebody comes, there will be a moment when the club says, 'now the financial issue is more important than the sports issue'.

"There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen - as long as Marc says, 'I want to leave', because the final decision is always with the player."

City's interest in Guehi has progressed following injuries to John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias.

Stones and Dias have been ruled out for at least a month with respective thigh and hamstring injuries, while Gvardiol will not return until April after suffering a broken leg.