Arsenal Lunches Marc Guehi Transfer Plan as Man City and Liverpool Hit £40m Hurdle

🕓 Last updated on January 9, 2026

Arsenal are positioning smartly for Marc Guehi transfer as Man City and Liverpool hesitate over Crystal Palace’s £40m demand.

Mikel Arteta has a clear chance to outmaneuver Manchester City and Liverpool in the January transfer window due to Crystal Palace’s contract standoff, according to Mirror Football, while Arsenal is quietly setting themselves up to carry out a clever Marc Guehi transfer plan.

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Marc Guehi has entered the final six months of his Palace contract, instantly placing Europe’s elite on red alert. While rivals debate whether to meet Palace’s £40 million asking price, Arsenal are exploring a more calculated route — either striking late this window or waiting to secure the England defender on a free transfer in the summer.

Arsenal’s interest in Guehi centres on control, depth and long-term planning rather than desperation. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães established as one of the league’s best partnerships, Arteta wants elite competition behind them — not panic buys.

Guehi’s ability to play across the back line, his Premier League experience and leadership qualities make him an ideal rotational option rather than a forced starter. Arsenal explored similar profiles last summer before opting for Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, but Guehi’s contract situation has shifted the landscape.

Sporting director Andrea Berta now has leverage. Arsenal can afford to wait — something City and Liverpool cannot.

Man City’s Injury Crisis Forces the Issue

Manchester City remain the most aggressive suitor, driven by a defensive injury list that includes Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol. Reports suggest City have made progress in talks, but Palace’s £40m valuation has stalled momentum.

City face a simple dilemma: overpay now or risk losing Guehi altogether.

Uncertainty around Pep Guardiola’s long-term future adds another wrinkle, with potential successor Enzo Maresca previously admiring Guehi during his Chelsea tenure.

Liverpool’s interest is nothing new. They agreed a £35m deal plus add-ons for Guehi last summer, only for negotiations to collapse late in the window. Palace have since hardened their stance, demanding £40m upfront.

Arne Slot has publicly avoided transfer talk, but Liverpool’s defensive depth remains thin. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté are the only senior centre-backs fully fit, with Joe Gomez only recently returning.

Arsenal’s entry into the race complicates matters further — either inflating the price or pushing Guehi towards a more patient buyer.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has openly admitted the situation is not one-dimensional. Palace want to keep Guehi, but they will listen if a “massive offer” arrives and the player pushes for the move.

With Bayern Munich also monitoring the situation, Palace know leverage diminishes with each passing week. Arsenal understand that timing may prove decisive.

Waiting until summer could hand Arsenal a top-level Premier League defender without paying a penny in transfer fees.

Why Arsenal Hold the Advantage

This is where Arsenal’s planning separates them from rivals.

They are not chasing headlines.
They are not forced by injuries.
They are not negotiating from weakness.

Whether Arsenal move now or wait, the leverage sits firmly in north London. If City or Liverpool blink at £40m, Arsenal are perfectly placed to strike — calmly, efficiently and on their own terms.

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