Manchester City are preparing to strengthen their pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi as manager Pep Guardiola looks to reshape his defensive unit with the Premier League’s cream of the crop.
The England international has emerged as one of the most coveted defenders in the domestic game and City see him as a long-term solution who can thrive within Guardiola’s demanding tactical system, sources close to the agent industry say. catch off side.
Gehi is near the top of Man City’s list of defensive candidates as the club plans the next stage of the team’s evolution.
City have enjoyed remarkable success in recent seasons, but Guardiola is understood to be keen to revamp certain areas of his squad, particularly in defence, where there have been questions about depth.
Man City need more defensive depth
With players such as John Stones and Nathan Ake entering the latter stages of their careers with fitness concerns, City’s recruitment team will be tasked with identifying defenders who can have both immediate impact and long-term value.
Guehi fits that profile perfectly. Since joining Crystal Palace from Chelsea, the 25-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-backs.
He has captained Palace on numerous occasions and has shown leadership and character. The defender has made 147 appearances in the Premier League, showing he has experience at the top level.
These attributes are particularly appealing to Guardiola, whose system relies heavily on defenders being comfortable on the ball and tactically smart.
Liverpool City Face Competition
City are not alone in their praise. Liverpool are also believed to be keeping a close eye on Gehi as they consider options to revamp their backline next season.
With Virgil van Dijk entering his 30s and Ibrahima Konate’s long-term future uncertain, the Reds believe Gehi could be the cornerstone of their next defensive era.
This sets up an intriguing battle between two of the Premier League’s leading sides, with both clubs keen to secure a proven home-grown defender who is already established at the highest level.
Elsewhere in Europe, Real Madrid are also monitoring his situation closely and could enter the race to sign him next year.
Man City favor Liverpool in race to sign £65m Premier League star
