Chelsea started this summer transfer window looking to bring a new striker, a left winger, and a centre-back. The club have already fulfilled two of those requirements. Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have been signed as new forwards, whereas Jamie Gittens has also arrived as the new dedicated option on the left flank following Jadon Sancho's exit and Mykhailo Mudryk's ongoing suspension. As for the centre-back role, the pursuit is still ongoing.
Chelsea are said to have agreed a deal for Jorrel Hato, who can play both on the left and as a centre-back. However, it seems that he’s not the only candidate in the Blues’ sights.
Reports have now emerged suggesting that the club might also be keeping a close eye on a long-time target who is on the list of several other Premier League clubs. And the transfer price might be much lower than first thought.
According to BBC, Liverpool have a genuine interest in Marc Guehi this summer while Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Chelsea have all registered varying degrees of interest in the England international centre-back since the end of the season.
Chelsea have registered their interest in long-time target Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace are reportedly ready to part ways with Guehi for a fee of £40 million. The player has just a year left on his contract, so there might be room for negotiation for Chelsea to work with.
Notably, if the Blues manage to secure a deal, it will be a homecoming for Guehi, who was transferred to Palace in 2021 for a fee around €23.34 million. Now the club want him back at Stamford Bridge after the defender has proven himself both domestically and internationally.
All things considered, the chances of the arrival of Guehi will take a hit once the Hato deal gets over the line. However, with the expected departure of a number of defenders, including Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and possibly Trevoh Chalobah, the club could decide to bring in more than one reinforcement for the position, especially with a long season ahead, which includes Champions League football.