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Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is anticipated to receive bids from a number of Premier League clubs over the forthcoming transfer windows, according to reports.
Palace pulled off a coup when they won the fight to recruit Guehi from Chelsea for £18 million in 2021, with the Blues academy graduate anticipated to cement himself as a top-flight regular.
That is exactly what has happened, with the 23-year-old making 93 appearances for Palace in all competitions and missing only four Premier League games out of a potential 86.
However, with the England international nearing the halfway point of his five-year contract, choices about his long-term future must be made shortly.
Palace may have accepted that they will be unable to lock Guehi down to new terms, giving them a maximum of four transfer windows to make a sizable sum.
On the plus side for the Eagles, even if a story in The Sun suggests that they are opposed to selling in January, they are unlikely to be short of interest in the left-sided central defender.
According to the report, any bidding war will be postponed until the summer transfer window at the earliest, with Palace anxious to keep Guehi’s services through 2023-24.
Palace presently have the division’s eighth-best defensive record, requiring a return of 13 goals conceded while only eight have been scored at the other end.
Nonetheless, the article says that Arsenal and Manchester City are set to compete in the race to sign Guehi to their respective clubs.
While it is speculated that City will try to entice Palace with a substantial offer in January, Palace are not in any hurry to part ways with their most cherished asset.
Guehi might also be considered by former club Chelsea, who are said to be looking for a new defender around the halfway stage of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United remain options, particularly the latter, who may be forced to rejig their defensive options at some point after losing five of their first ten league games this season.
In addition to Guehi, Palace manager Roy Hodgson has Joachim Andersen, Rob Holding, Chris Richards, and James Tomkins as alternatives for his two midfield positions.
