Marc Guehi's club U-turn and 'silly' offer as Crystal Palace chief makes admission

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi has emerged as a prime target for Liverpool this summer. But a number of other Premier League clubs have been interested in the defender in recent seasons.

The 25-year-old Eagles captainled his side to victory over Liverpool in Sunday's Community Shield, delivering a commanding performance. The England international has entered the final 12 months of his Palace deal however, leaving the south London club facing a crucial decision - cash in on their star man this summer or risk watching him depart for nothing next year, unless fresh terms are agreed.

Guehi attracted serious attention from Newcastle last summer, with Palace rejecting three approaches, including a bid worth around £70million. Palace stood their ground in 2024, but such resolve may not be guaranteed this time around.

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Following the Community Shield clash, Palace chairman Steve Parishadmitted Guehi might depart this summer, acknowledging that players of his ability leaving for fee is a "problem".

With Liverpool now weighing up a move for Guehi, and former employers Chelsea also reportedly circling, we examine the transfer drama that has established Guehi as one of the Premier League's most coveted defenders.

Liverpool's stance

Liverpool are known to maintain an interest in the defender, though the club's hierarchy are prepared to bide their time rather than meet Palace's asking price this summer, with the Eagles still seeking a fee approaching £50m, as per the Liverpool Echo.

Speaking ahead of the Community Shield, Palace manager Oliver Glasner provided no additional insight regarding the defender's future prospects.

"You have to ask Marc. At the end it's always the player's decision," he said. "Marc decides about his future, and of course everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract, but it will be his decision."

It's thought that Guehi isn't actively seeking a departure from the Eagles at present, though he would opt for Liverpool over rivals for his signature, Newcastle, should such a choice become necessary.

Silly offer

Back in January, Chelsea were reportedly behind what was described as a 'silly' approach to lure Guehi back to Stamford Bridge. The Blues offloaded Guehi to Palace in 2021 for £18m, but their package to secure his return to west London fell well short of the Eagles' expectations according to reports.

Chelsea were hovering around Guehi with a £50m valuation but Palace were understood to demand closer to £70m for their prized asset. A transfer never came to fruition with an insider revealing: "Their [Chelsea's] offer was a long way off being a fair price. It was silly really and they need to offer more."

Discussing Guehi at the time, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said: "I like Marc for sure but he is not our player". Now attention turns to whether the Blues will launch another bid to bring Guehi back to his original home.

Chelsea U-turn and transfer clause

The Blues were eager to keep hold of Guehi in 2021 but Palace's proposal proved too tempting to reject, compelling them to reverse their decision regarding their academy product.

Chelsea also wished to include a buy-back clause for Guehi. Nevertheless, the clubs eventually settled on a matching rights arrangement for the Blues, allowing them the opportunity to equal any future bid for Guehi, alongside a sell-on clause, reportedly worth a substantial 20%.

Guehi's Chelsea stance

Guehi completed two loan spells at Swansea City before his Palace transfer and he felt it prepared him for increased playing time in the Premier League.

The centre-back confessed in 2022 that he harboured no regrets about departing Chelsea as securing regular first-team football was crucial in his choice to leave - something that might put off a move to Liverpool with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate presently the preferred defensive partnership at Anfield.

"Game time for any young player is the key," Guehi said. "Coming off the back of playing in the Championship on a regular basis for any young player that is really important, getting game time.

"The decision to leave Chelsea and come to Palace was the right one, to get that game time and show what I can do. Coming here didn't mean it was a given I was going to play. For my development it was important to go somewhere permanent, play regularly, and feel at home somewhere."

Thomas Tuchel has no regrets

Former Chelsea manager, now England manager, Tuchel expressed no regret over letting Guehi leave in 2021. "It's a fantastic development and it's very hard to know if we kept him what would've happened," the German said following Guehi's debut season with Palace.

"Maybe he needed a change, a different club, a bigger role, more minutes to develop his full potential." Chelsea's current stance on Guehi seems to suggest they are ruing their decision to let him go, but Tuchel was convinced it was the correct move, adding: "I am happy with these decisions and it was the right thing to do given the circumstances."

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