Chelsea and Newcastle United blow as Liverpool £70m transfer trump card emerges

Chelsea and Newcastle United have had any hopes of beating Liverpool to the transfer of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this January handed a blow as it emerges that the league leaders could have a trump card up their sleeve.

The England international was the centre of a transfer storm this summer with Newcastle United seeing a £60 million bid rejected by the South London outfit. The 24-year-old remains the linchpin in Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace defence and had played every minute of the Premier League campaign this season before missing out of the win against Southampton due to suspension.

Despite their summer stubbornness, it had emerged earlier this month that Crystal Palace are willing to cash in on Guehi at some point in 2025, whether that be in January or at the end of the current campaign. The defender's contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire in 2026, which could see the £70 million fee demanded by the club in the summer drop to a lower price.

The Magpies continue to be linked with interest in Guehi's services but face competition from Premier League title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool. Enzo Maresca has pointed to defensive frailties as one of the reasons the Blues can't be considered challengers to win the division with a reunion with former Chelsea man Guehi potentially an answer to that.

Liverpool hold transfer trump card

Last week, Metro reported that Chelsea are indeed potential suitors for Guehi but that the defender would prefer a move to Liverpool. That would put the Reds in pole position to snap up the Eagles man, and they could be helped by a trump card too.

The Mirror carries a report that suggests Crystal Palace have had their heads turned by the progress of Middlesbrough winger Ben Doak this season. The 19-year-old is on loan in the North East from Liverpool and has two goals and five assists in the second tier this season.

Palace are known for their ability to help EFL players transition to the top flight after success with Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton in recent seasons. It is thought that Doak could follow in those footsteps and Liverpool are willing to use the teenager as part of any bid for Guehi.

Liverpool have the ability to terminate Doak's stay at the Riverside Stadium early should they need to use that to their advantage in a January transfer pursuit for Guehi.

Crystal Palace would ‘consider’ Guehi sale

Speaking about the Guehi’s future in the summer, chairman Steve Parish said: "We would like to keep hold of him. There is a price and a situation where we might consider it.

"Somebody [in another interview] said he is a superstar, so somebody has got to pay superstar money. Realistically, he is homegrown, 24 years old and a sensational talent - so somebody has to make it difficult for us. At the moment, it isn't.

"He will still be at Crystal Palace at the moment, but it's not impossible [that he goes]. He is certainly not making anybody's life difficult, his agents are decent people.

"It is a very good situation. Whether he is here or not will make no difference as to how he performs."