There’s no such thing as too many quality players on a team. Chelsea is the perfect proof of that, splashing the cash on dozens of players in the past few years under the new ownership. The Blues are recently considering bringing a familiar name back to the club – Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace star and captain is reportedly keen on the move, too, even after the club sold him to Crystal Palace in 2021.
Guehi was sold for £18 million back then as part of the restructuring by new owner Todd Boehly. He signed a five-year deal with Palace, but with 18 months left on his contract, he may be going back to Stamford Bridge.
Why Are Chelsea Favourites to Sign Marc Guehi?
With the Premier League transfer period only lasting until January 27, Chelsea have a decision to make. The club has been performing above expectations this year but has also been plagued by injuries. One area where the team notably needs improvement is the defense, and Guehi fits like a glove.
If Chelsea manages to nab him, that is. Guehi has been attracting interest from other clubs, who know that his value is lower than it was in the summer due to the 18 months left on his contract. Bookmakers have Chelsea in pole position as the favourites to land the 24-year defender, who has impressed at Crystal Palace this season.
But, competition will be fierce, as Newcastle is also keen on him. Liverpool and Manchester City have been pondering a move. City may pull out of the race after apparently agreeing terms with RC Lens for 20-year-old phenom Abdukodir Khusanov. But, with Pep Guardiola admitting that Kyle Walker will be sold before the transfer deadline, the Citizens might consider a move for Guehi.
Liverpool is looking to reinforce the squad for the push toward the end of the season, too. Guehi has been on their shortlist, sitting right behind Chelsea and Newcastle as the new Guehi favourites in the race. The Reds have been dominant this season, and Guehi has a chance to slip in the first 11, possibly relishing a challenge there.
Newcastle has been vocal in their admiration for Marc Guehi, too, and may offer better finances than Chelsea. But, if there’s one club where Guehi will continue to improve, it’s Chelsea.
Familiar Ground
The main reason why bookies and experts believe Chelsea will sign Guehi is the familiar territory. As mentioned earlier, Guehi was brought up through Chelsea’s academy, and may have slotted in the first 11 had he not been sold to Palace in 2021. The defender never got a chance to prove his qualities for the first team, despite impressing in the youth ranks.
It’s an unfinished story between these two, and most experts believe that Guehi is keener on Chelsea than any other club. Enzo Maresca’s side will certainly benefit from adding a defender, strengthening the backside for a possible title push. Out of the top six clubs, Chelsea has the second most porous defence, sitting behind Manchester City.
Another major reason why Chelsea are leading the race to sign Guehi before the deadline is the fact that there’s a matching offer clause in his Palace contract. When he was sold in 2021, Chelsea didn’t include a buy-back clause. But, it inserted a smart clause, which allows the London club to match offers made for Guehi in the future, and now may be the time to use it.
Guehi would be an excellent addition to Chelsea as it seems their defence is a key area that they should look to improve. They score goals in abundance, averaging almost 2 goals per game so they will be pleased with the contribution from their attacking players. Defensively, they are averaging a little more than a goal a game which isn’t a great stat and has caused them to drop points in recent games. You can follow Chelsea’s games, view previous results, records, stats and more at Ask Gamblers UK where they have a live results platform covering not just the Premier League but other leagues too.
Chelsea or Others for Guehi?
From a sentimental perspective, Chelsea feels like the logical choice for Guehi. He was let go at a time when he wouldn’t have played for the club, establishing himself as a star at Crystal Palace. The club and player share history and that will certainly be taken into account when Guehi makes a decision in late January.
Of course, he may also look for a new challenge, and in that case, the other interested parties will be ready to pounce. Whoever gets Guehi, they’ll be getting a great investment for the future.
