Arsenal’s interest in Marc Guehi recently became apparent as clubs swarm around the Crystal Palace defender.
As the Englishman is out of contract at Palace in the summer, there’s a race to acquire his signature for free once the 2025/26 season concludes.
The problem is that Manchester City are prepared to sign Guehi now, as Pep Guardiola’s current centre-backs continue to struggle in the injury department.
Despite City’s desire to sign the Palace captain this winter, Arsenal are eyeing a summer swoop for Guehi to bolster their ranks.
The question is, as it stands, which club is most likely to sign the 25-year-old?
Fill in the blank: Mikel Arteta should push Arsenal to sign a ___________ in January…
Arsenal’s stance in Marc Guehi transfer race
Guehi has admirers at Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta making it clear that he likes the Palace superstar.
At the end of the Gunners’ win over Palace, Guehi was spotted with Arteta and several Arsenal players, which had fans suspecting that interest was there.
They were right, as interest is there, but right now, it doesn’t appear to be enough to outweigh other clubs.
Sky Sports issued an update on the Guehi race as Kaveh Solhekol shared his insight.
“The race to sign Marc Guehi is wide open at the moment, there isn’t a front runner, there isn’t a favourite,” the journalist revealed.
What is the maximum fee you would pay for Marc Guehi in January considering Arsenal can sign him for free in the summer?
Solhekol added that while the race involved four clubs, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Man City and Liverpool, it’s Guardiola’s side who have a unique stance.
City are the only club that want to sign Guehi in January, whereas, for Arsenal, the idea is strictly one for the summer.
Solhekol shared his thoughts on the extent of Arsenal’s interest, and it’s unsurprising.
“I think Arsenal have a lot of strength in depth, also Gabriel and William Saliba have signed new contracts, so I would say Arsenal’s lead is not as pressing as other clubs.”
Given that Guehi wouldn’t be a starter at Arsenal, the Gunners’ interest was always going to be questionable, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Why I think Arsenal signing Marc Guehi is risky
From a fans’ point of view, I find Arsenal’s interest in Guehi surprising, despite Arteta’s love for buying defenders.
I have two reasons, one is obvious, one, not so much.
For starters, Guehi is a 25-year-old at the top of his game, ready to leave Palace as captain to take on a new venture, so why would he sign for a club where he wouldn’t start?
Arsenal enter the Marc Guehi race, in your own words WHY?
It pains me to say it, but at Liverpool, Man City and even Bayern Munich, he’d be a nailed-on starter, at Arsenal, no one is usurping Gabriel and Saliba.
My other concern is that the transfer comes with a risk of unsettling the dressing room.
That’s purely opinionated, but there’s only so much time a player of Guehi’s calibre, at this stage in his career, would settle for not being one of the main men.
Arsenal’s squad is fantastically balanced at present, which, numbers aside, is why things are working so well.
Adding a player who undoubtedly deserves to be a starter, but wouldn’t be, could rock the boat ever so slightly.
Signing a defender of Guehi’s level for free would be a dream for Arteta, but on this one, I think Arsenal sitting out would be the best bet.
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