Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi is a player who’s been heavily linked with a potential return to Chelsea this month.
Marc Guehi, 24, previously developed in the Chelsea academy as a youngster. He’s certainly found a home for himself since a move to Selhurst Park in 2021, though.
Chelsea have been contemplating a January move for Palace star Guehi, who starred for his side last night as they won 2-0 away at Leicester City in the Premier League.
Interestingly, the Blues have already conducted business with Palace this month. Trevoh Chalobah has been playing well during a season-long loan with the Eagles, but Chelsea officially activated a release clause yesterday to recall the central defender and bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
What Trevoh Chalobah’s recall means for Chelsea’s interest in Marc Guehi
According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea’s efforts to sign Palace defender Guehi in the January window now hang in the balance.
It is explained that Oliver Glasner’s side don’t plan to sign a replacement for recalled loanee Chalobah, so there’s major doubt about whether another defender could leave the club. Apparently, the expectancy is that Guehi will stay where he is until the end of the season.
He’s been the number one defensive target for Enzo Maresca’s team after conversations with Palace this month, but any deal looks increasingly more difficult to complete.
The report does add that a ‘well-placed source’ claims Chelsea remain interested in Guehi and a move may still be possible. However, it would take an unexpected turn of events for the situation to change.
Guehi is one of seven centre-halves considered by Chelsea, so could we see them move on to another target before the end of the January window?
Do Chelsea need another centre-back in January?
If Chelsea are fixed on Guehi, it may be worth waiting until the end of the season to ramp up interest again. In the meantime, perhaps they could spend the rest of January seeing if there’s any prolific strikers available.
As it stands, the Blues may have enough cover in the heart of defence to last them until the summer, even with the current injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.
Chalobah is back in the Chelsea squad to compete for a centre-back position alongside the likes of Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong. However, Brighton have expressed an interest in signing Chelsea’s Tosin.
