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Chelsea 'set for financial boost if Arsenal sign Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 15 May 2023

Chelsea 'set for financial boost if Arsenal sign Marc Guehi'

Chelsea are reportedly set for a cash windfall if Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur-linked centre-back Marc Guehi leaves Crystal Palace this summer.

Chelsea will reportedly be in line for a significant cash windfall if Crystal Palace let in-demand centre-back Marc Guehi leave this summer.

Guehi came through the Stamford Bridge youth system after joining as a schoolboy in 2007, but he only made two senior appearances for the Blues in all tournaments.

The England international was twice loaned out to Swansea City before joining Palace permanently for £18m in 2021, and he immediately became a mainstay in the Eagles' backline.

Guehi has formed an effective partnership with Joachim Andersen in the heart of the Palace rearguard this season, starting 35 Premier League games and scoring once against Crystal Palace.

The 22-year-old has also worn the captain's armband on eight occasions this season, and his form at Selhurst Park caught the eye of Gareth Southgate, who handed Guehi his senior England debut last year in a friendly win over Switzerland.

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi celebrates scoring their first goal with Cheikhou Kouyate and Joachim Andersen on March 20, 2022 © Reuters

The centre-back subsequently featured twice in June's Nations League fixtures against Italy and Hungary and was back on the bench for March's Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Italy and Ukraine after failing to make the Three Lions' World Cup squad.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keen on signing Guehi this summer, but Palace are under no pressure to sell on the cheap, as the defender's deal does not expire until 2024.

According to the Evening Standard, Roy Hodgson's side will attempt to ward off interest from other clubs this summer, but bids north of £50m may be considered by the Eagles.

Palace have purportedly set Aaron Wan-Bissaka's £50m switch to Manchester United in 2019 as the benchmark, especially as Chelsea are set to pocket 20% of any future transfer fee due to a sell-on clause inserted into his Palace contract.

As a result, a £50m move to either Spurs or Arsenal would boost Chelsea's warchest by £10m as the Blues try to recover from a total loss of £121m in their accounts for the 2021-22 season.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson before the match on April 1, 2023 © Reuters

Since swapping Stamford Bridge for Selhurst Park in 2021, Guehi has scored five goals and set up one more in 80 appearances for Palace, who are mathematically safe from relegation in 11th place in the Premier League table.

Arsenal boosted their defensive ranks with the January signing of Jakub Kiwior from Spezia, but season-ending injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba have left Mikel Arteta thin on the ground at centre-back.

The Spaniard is believed to be seeking rearguard reinforcements to prepare his side for a return to the Champions League, while Rob Holding's future is also clouded in uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Spurs are due to wave goodbye to Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet at the end of the season, but the Lilywhites are said to be in talks to sign the Frenchman permanently.

Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga could be on the way out this summer too, although Eric Dier is expected to be handed a new contract.