FC Barcelona target Marc Guehi may be sold by Crystal Palace in the winter transfer window as his contract nears its end, attracting widespread interest from other top European clubs.
Premier League club Crystal Palace is reportedly open to selling highly-rated central defender and captain Marc Guehi during the January transfer window to prevent losing him for free when his contract expires next summer.
According to a report from Barca Universal, Guehi, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs, will not sign an extension to his current deal, which is set to end on June 30.
This makes the 25-year-old defender poised to leave the Eagles, with FC Barcelona identified as one of the top European clubs interested in securing his services as they seek to strengthen their backline.
The search for defensive reinforcements has made Guehi a key target for the Catalan giants. While the player will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with non-Premier League clubs starting January 1st, Crystal Palace is now contemplating a mid-season sale to secure a transfer fee instead of allowing their captain to walk away for nothing.
The report notes that manager Oliver Glasner has left the possibility of an early departure open.
Glasner commented on the situation, stating, “Of course, we are prepared for anything, but I don’t know what will happen.”
Guehi was the subject of intense interest last summer. He was reportedly “close to joining Liverpool on the final day of the last transfer window for £35 million, only for Palace to pull the plug on the deal in the nth minute.”
However, the prospect of losing the defender without any compensation is now prompting the Premier League side to reconsider their stance, making a move for the Barcelona defensive target a real possibility in the new year for a club like Barcelona.