Marc Guehi 'silly' offer, transfer clause drama, sudden Chelsea U-turn

Crystal Palace starMarc Guehi has been a key target for several Premier League clubs in recent seasons.

The 25-year-old Eagles captain led his side to victory against Liverpool in the Community Shield on Sunday, delivering an assured performance, despite going off late on with a minor injury.

The England international has entered the final 12 months of his Palace deal, however, leaving the South London club facing a crucial decision: cash in on their star man this summer or risk losing him for nothing next year – unless a new deal is agreed.

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Guehi attracted Newcastle's attention last summer, with Palace rejecting three offers, including a bid worth £70million. Palace stood their ground in 2024, though the same resolve cannot be guaranteed this time around.

Following the Community Shield, Palace chairman Steve Parish acknowledged that Guehi might depart this summer, suggesting that for talents of Guehi's calibre, departing for a transfer fee presents a "problem".

With Liverpool now weighing up a move for Guehi, and former employers Chelsea also reportedly interested, we examine the transfer saga that has established Guehi as one of the Premier League's most sought-after defenders.

Liverpool's stance

Liverpool hold a genuine interest in the defender, though the hierarchy at Anfield are prepared to bide their time rather than meet Palace's asking price this summer, with the Eagles still seeking a fee around £50m.

Speaking ahead of the Community Shield, Palace manager Oliver Glasner provided no additional insight regarding the defender's future prospects, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"You have to ask Marc. At the end it's always the player's decision," he said. "Marc decides about his future, and of course everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract, but it will be his decision."

It's believed that Guehi is not actively seeking a departure from the Eagles at present, though he would opt for Liverpool over Newcastle United should such a choice become necessary.

'Silly' offer

In January, The Sun reported Chelsea lodged an offer branded as 'silly' to bring Guehi back to Stamford Bridge. The Blues sold Guehi to Palace in 2021 for £18m, but their package to take him back to west London wasn't even close to what the Eagles expected.

Chelsea were circling Guehi for £50m but Palace were said to want in the region of £70m for their star man. A deal never materialised with an insider claiming: "Their [Chelsea's] offer was a long way off being a fair price. It was silly really and they need to offer more."

Speaking of Guehi at the time, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: "I like Marc for sure but he is not our player" - now all eyes are on whether Chelsea will mount another attempt to bring Guehi back to where it all started for him.

Chelsea U-turn and transfer clause

The Blues were eager to keep hold of Guehi in 2021, but Palace's proposal proved too tempting to refuse, compelling them to perform a dramatic U-turn regarding their academy product.

Chelsea also attempted to secure a buy-back clause for Guehi, as per the Daily Mail. Nevertheless, the clubs eventually settled on a matching rights arrangement for the Blues, allowing them the opportunity to equal any future bid for Guehi, alongside a sell-on clause, believed to be 20%.

Guehi's Chelsea stance

Guehi spent two seasons out on loan at Swansea City prior to his Palace move and he believed it steeled him for more minutes in the Premier League.

The centre-half confessed in 2022 that he harboured no remorse about departing Chelsea as securing regular first-team football was crucial in his choice to depart - something that might discourage a move to Liverpool with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate presently the preferred centre-back pairing at Anfield.

"Game time for any young player is the key," Guehi said. "Coming off the back of playing in the Championship on a regular basis for any young player that is really important, getting game time.

"The decision to leave Chelsea and come to Palace was the right one, to get that game time and show what I can do. Coming here didn't mean it was a given I was going to play. For my development it was important to go somewhere permanent, play regularly, and feel at home somewhere."

Thomas Tuchel has no regrets

Former Chelsea boss, now England manager, Tuchel had no remorse at letting Guehi go in 2021. "It’s a fantastic development and it’s very hard to know if we kept him what would’ve happened," The German said after Guehi's maiden season with Palace.

"Maybe he needed a change, a different club, a bigger role, more minutes to develop his full potential."

Chelsea's current stance on Guehi seems to suggest they are regretting their decision to part ways, but Tuchel believed it was the right course of action, adding: "I am happy with these decisions and it was the right thing to do given the circumstances.”