Chelsea already have perfect solution to Marc Guehi transfer agreement amid valuation 'gap'

Chelsea may already have an answer to the problem facing them when it comes to trying to re-sign centre-back Marc Guehi. The Blues are said to be interested in a move for the England international, who has become one of the most sought-after English defenders in recent times amid performances for club and country.

Guehi commanded serious interest from Newcastle United in the summer, with the Magpies reportedly going as high as £70million, but Palace held out for £75million and kept hold of their man.

That was only a temporary solution for the Eagles, though, with Guehi only having around 18 months remaining on his current contract. Likely to want to take a step up at some point, Palace will likely need to consider selling the centre-back at some stage, and club chief Steve Parish has already admitted that he expected Guehi to go last summer. Parish also says he does not want to stand in the way of players getting big moves, so long as the price is right for the club.

Chelsea may be one of the best-positioned clubs to land Guehi, particularly given their need for more depth at centre-back, with Wesley Fofana struggling with injury issues over the last couple of years. But they don’t seem to want to pay the reported £70million Palace are said to be holding out for.

But there is an obvious discount that Chelsea may be able to get, with Trevoh Chalobah currently on loan with Palace. Meanwhile, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner has already made it clear he wants to keep Chalobah on a permanent deal, saying in December: “A deal happens if three parties are happy with it: the two clubs and the player. If all parties want to have a deal, and agree, it will happen. He’s doing really well for us, and we were very consistent in our defensive line.”

He added: “Trevoh has now scored three goals, but we always say that is extra for a defender. He has three, Lacroix has one, Guehi has two. Add Daniel Munoz, and we have eight from our back-five. This is 40 per cent of the goals we scored, and it’s very important that we have defenders who can score goals.”

Swap deal in the making?

Chelsea don’t seem to want to pay the big money to land Guehi, but Chalobah has already been deemed surplus to requirements, with Maresca making it clear he does not see him in his plans. It’s reported Chelsea want £30million or more to sell Chalobah, who would be pure profit having come through the club’s academy.

Given Palace’s desire to sign the centre-back, there could be a perfect deal to be struck to the tune of £40million plus Chalobah heading to Selhurst Park for Guehi to head the other way, or indeed something similar to that. That means Chelsea may already hold the key to a Guehi deal, unlikely to come to an agreement on the current asking price, and especially not in January.