Chelsea are reportedly considering a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Less than a month before the start of the 2023/24 season, the Blues have endured a huge setback with Wesley Fofana suffering an ACL injury. Fofana is now set to miss the majority of the upcoming campaign after undergoing knee surgery, which leaves Mauricio Pochettino light at the back.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea are looking to re-sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the wake of Fofana’s serious injury.
Guehi, 23, has impressed since joining Crystal Palace in an £18 million deal from Chelsea in 2021. He was a rock at the back for the Eagles last season, racking up 37 Premier League appearances, and there is a good chance of him being included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 European Championships.
The report adds Arsenal and Tottenham are also keen on Guehi but as part of their agreement with Crystal Palace, Chelsea do have the option to match any rival bids for the 23-year-old defender.
Marc Guehi to Chelsea—Smart signing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side?
Chelsea have been forced to dip into the transfer market after losing Fofana to a long-term injury. The departures of Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta earlier in the transfer window, coupled with Fofana’s knee injury, means Mauricio Pochettino presently has Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill as fit centre-back options.
Silva is in the final stages of his career, Badiashile should return in a couple of months from hamstring problem, Colwill has great potential but is inexperienced at the highest level and Chalobah is attracting interest from Inter Milan. Thus, it is vital for Chelsea to add a new central defender to their ranks and, Marc Guehi, in that regard, would be perfect.
Guehi has grown in stature in the last 15-18 months at Crystal Palace, proving he has the qualities to operate at the highest level. The defender has made his way into the senior England setup as well, and that shows how quickly he has matured and developed as a player. He is just 23 but has become one of the most important players in the Crystal Palace squad, making 73 Premier League appearances in the last two seasons combined.
The four-cap England international has been given the captaincy armband on many occasions by Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park. Guehi’s leadership skills and ability to marshal his troops from the back would make him an excellent addition to Pochettino’s Chelsea squad. He could also become the long-term heir to the ageing Silva, who turns 39 in September.
With the Pensioners desperately in need of reinforcements at the back, Guehi is someone they must do everything in their powers to bring back.
