Latest developments
- Chelsea have emerged as rivals to Newcastle United in the race to sign Marc Guehi.
- The Blues sold their academy product to Crystal Palace in 2021.
- Newcastle had a bid of £80 million rejected in the summer.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (3/5): Sources claim interest from Guehi
After Newcastle United tried and failed to prize Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace in the summer, Chelsea have decided to go up against the Magpies for the centre-back's signature in January.
Guehi came through the youth ranks at Chelsea, and sources from teamtalk.com claim that the player still has strong ties with the West London club and would be very keen on a return move.
Value (2/5): Palace raking it in
The Eagles would not sell one of the best assets for £80 million in the summer, and since then Guehi has been one of the standout performers in Oliver Glasner's struggling side.
Needing to spend in January themselves, if £80 million wasn't enough in the summer, then Palace will be looking for an even bigger fee for the player valued around £38 million on Transfermarkt.
Suitability (5/5): Guehi will feel at home
Not only will he be going back to the place he called home from the ages of 8 to 21, the Ivory Coast-born Englishman will have no issue with the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Enzo Maresca, as Palace used to deploy four at the back until this season.
Upgrade? (4.5/5): Chelsea's options solid, but not amazing
Plenty of teams in the Premier League would be jealous of Chelsea's centre-back quintet of Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo.
All top-flight quality options, but none are quite at the level of Guehi, whose only question should be who will be partnering him in the starting XI.
Logic (4/5): Should he go back?
Well, they do say “never go back”, and in this case Guehi will be going back to the club that sold him to Palace for around £20 million having made just two appearances, both in the EFL Cup.
The 24-year-old doesn't seem to hold any grudges, and with no real links to the North East, one can understand why he might prefer Stamford Bridge to St James' Park.
Whisper+ verdict: 18.5/25
Chelsea stand to lose at least £60 million in transfer fees in three years on Guehi, and a sell-on clause would give them a cut of the fee should he go to Newcastle or elsewhere. But, maybe that is a price worth paying for an elite centre-back who could still be improving.
