Liverpool target Marc Guehi has reportedly been offered a contract by Premier League rivals Manchester City. The England international has six months left on his contract with Crystal Palace and is rumored to be on the move this month.
The Reds were looking to sign Guehi in the summer, but the move fell through at the 11th hour despite agreeing a £35m deal with Palace. The reason behind the collapse of the deal was Palace’s failure to secure a replacement before the window closed.
There were rumors that Guehi could complete a move to Liverpool in the future, but it appears he is ready. That’s because manager Fabrizio Romano has reported that Manchester City has raised the bar to sign Guehi, despite the fact that they have suffered some serious injuries to their defense.
City are reported to be offering a deal, with the 2023 European champions also submitting a bid to Crystal Palace, thought to be in the region of £30m. If true, that would be less than the £35m Palace had set aside for Guehi’s signature over the summer.
It remains to be seen whether Palace will accept a bid, as reports earlier this month suggested they were offering more than the £35m offered by Liverpool six months ago. That could be because the first contract Gehi signed after his move from Chelsea included some sales tactics and could mean the Eagles would have to send large amounts of cash to their London rivals.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been asked extensively about Guehi’s future, with the Austrian accepting the reality that he may have to sell the club. Speaking at a press conference in January, he explained: “We have a situation where contracts end in the summer, and if someone comes in, there will be a moment when the club says, ‘Right now, financial issues are more important than sporting issues.’ We have to do it and try to get the best. That’s why I always say, “I don’t know.” Because this is different.
“There will be criteria by which the club has to say[a sale]… If a player says ‘I want to leave’ and the amount is above that criteria then it will happen. I’m not so naive that I don’t know that if a huge offer comes from City and Marc wants it, it will happen.”
