Image source: sports.yahoo.com
Manchester City met with Marc Guehi’s agent at the City Football Academy over the weekend as the club advances their pursuit of the Crystal Palace defender. City officials are finding it difficult to structure a deal due to signing-on bonuses promised to Guehi if he leaves Selhurst Park on a free transfer in summer.
Marc Guehi’s Agent Holds Transfer Talks with Manchester City Officials at Training Ground
The meeting on Sunday represents a significant step forward in what has become one of City’s most closely followed transfer pursuits. After days of conflicting reports surrounding the England international’s future, direct contact with his representative signals that interest from the Etihad Stadium is advancing beyond preliminary enquiries.
City officials are currently finding it difficult to source a solution that works for both the centre-back and Crystal Palace due to the signing-on bonuses Guehi has been promised if leaving on a free transfer in summer. The financial complications mean City must not only negotiate with Palace but also provide sufficient incentive to outweigh what the player stands to gain by waiting until his contract expires.
Guehi has been aware of City’s interest since mid-November, with the intent described as serious and deliberate ahead of expected departures for John Stones and Nathan Ake in 2026. Earlier confidence around a January deal had been fuelled by claims that City believed an agreement could be struck between the two clubs, although that optimism was later tempered by Oliver Glasner’s insistence that Palace would only sell if massive money arrived.
From Guehi’s perspective, a free transfer in summer would be financially advantageous, potentially bringing a substantial signing-on fee that Palace cannot match if selling now. For Palace, allowing Guehi to leave for nothing would represent a major financial loss, yet forcing a January sale below their valuation could undermine their sporting objectives in the second half of the season.
What happens next may depend on whether City can restructure their proposal through higher up-front fees, bonus structures, or contractual terms that bridge the gap between a January move and the financial benefits of a summer transfer. If no compromise can be found, this meeting may ultimately serve as groundwork for a summer deal rather than an immediate breakthrough, although that would open up competition from a whole host of European giants for the defender’s signature.
