Transfer News: Manchester City move one step closer to signing Eagles captain

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are making a significant push to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this month, moving ahead of rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.

Following a flurry of activity in the last 24 hours, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that City have submitted an "important proposal" to the England international as they look to finalise a deal before the winter window closes.

The urgency stems from a severe defensive crisis at the Etihad.

Guardiola is currently without three senior center-backs: Josko Gvardiol is out long-term following surgery on a broken shin, Ruben Dias is sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, and John Stones remains unavailable with a recurring thigh strain.

Guehi has entered the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park and has already informed Palace manager Oliver Glasner that he will not be signing an extension.

While Liverpool and Arsenal were prepared to wait until the summer to sign him as a free agent, City’s immediate need has forced their hand.

Palace, who rejected a £35m deadline-day bid from Liverpool last summer, are now more open to a mid-season sale to avoid losing their captain for nothing in July. A fee between £30m and £40m is expected to be enough to strike an agreement.

Glasner admitted earlier this week that the club’s financial threshold might soon be met. “I’m not naive. If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen,” the Palace boss said.

If the deal goes through, Guehi would become City’s second major signing of the January window following the £64m arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

For City, securing Guehi now would not only provide immediate cover for their injured stars but also secure a long-term successor for John Stones, whose future remains uncertain as he enters the final months of his own contract.