Chelsea are considering a move to re-sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace next summer.
Guehi came through the academy ranks at Chelsea but made just two senior appearances before his £18m sale to Crystal Palace in 2021.
The centre-back has since developed into a proven Premier League performer and impressed for England at this summer’s European Championship.
Brought into the side in the absence of Harry Maguire, Guehi won plaudits for his performances during England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.
Palace fought off strong interest in the player during the summer transfer window, with the Eagles rejecting a bid worth up to £70m from Newcastle United.
Speaking on Guehi’s future in the summer, Palace chairman Steve Parish said it would take ‘superstar’ money to sign the defender.
“We would like to keep hold of him. There is a price and a situation where we might consider it,” Parish told BBC Sport. “Somebody [in another interview] said he is a superstar, so somebody has got to pay superstar money.
“Realistically, he is homegrown, 24 years old and a sensational talent – so somebody has to make it difficult for us. At the moment, it isn’t.
“He will still be at Crystal Palace at the moment, but it’s not impossible [that he goes].
“He is certainly not making anybody’s life difficult, his agents are decent people.
“It is a very good situation. Whether he is here or not will make no difference as to how he performs.”
Chelsea confident of agreeing lower Guehi deal
TBR Football are reporting that Chelsea, however, are confident of agreeing a lower deal. The Blues inserted a sell-on clause into the deal that saw Guehi move to Crystal Palace, meaning the West Londoners would be entitled to a sum of any profit made.
With the clause in play, A £70m fee for other clubs would be just £56m for Chelsea. There is also hope Palace will be forced into accepting a lower bid, with Guehi set to enter the final 12 months of his deal next summer and unlikely to sign an extension.
Chelsea are set to target a centre-back with Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi having struggled to convince at Stamford Bridge. The West Londoners also lost Thiago Silva in the summer and view Guehi as a potential long-term solution in central defence.
