Centre-back has been one of the top priorities for the Blues this summer, along with a versatile forward and a left-winger. Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth had appeared to be Chelsea's top choice among all centre-backs, but they lost out to Real Madrid in the race to sign him and needed to turn their attention elsewhere as a result.
After failing to get Hujisen, Chelsea turned their interest to Marc Guehi, a former Blue who now plays for Crystal Palace. However, it seems like this could end up the same way it did with their previous target.
Guehi came through the Blues' academy, however only made 2 senior appearances for them. He moved to Crystal Palace in 2021 and hasn't looked back since then. With 155 appearances, the 24-year-old has consistently improved and established himself as a defensive fixture for the Eagles.
With 23 caps, Guehi has emerged as a vital member of the England national team too and is currently considered one of the Premier League's top centre-backs. His reputation was further reinforced by his pivotal role in Crystal Palace's historic FA Cup victory.
Chelsea target Marc Guehi ready to join Liverpool only on one condition
With Guehi entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, interest in his signature is at an all-time high. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle United all want to add him to their squads.
Liverpool are now the front-runner to sign Guehi out of all of them. In fact, the Reds are said to be quite close to reaching an agreement with the player on personal terms. But there's a catch.
According to Sky Sports, if Guehi were to move, he would want to be assured of being a regular first-team starter. Also, agreeing on a transfer fee with Crystal Palace will not be simple.
Now, the Reds will struggle to match this demand because they still have their outstanding duo of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as their first-choice central defensive pairing. The Dutchman has extended his contract with the Premier League champions. So, Guehi's move to Anfield could depend on the French international's future. His current deal with Liverpool will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.
A starting spot won't be a problem at Chelsea, though, as they are looking to improve their defence, and Enzo Maresca would be glad to have a Premier League-proven centre-back on his team. Therefore, the Blues, who can immediately guarantee him regular football, retain a decent chance of signing him.
However, even if Chelsea are unable to sign Guehi, they will not be completely out of the picture thanks to a smart move they made when he joined Crystal Palace. The Blues included a 20% sell-on clause. That could bring in a significant windfall, even if the England international ends up elsewhere.