Even though Chelsea were busy in the summer transfer window, the Blues squad has looked a little stretched in the opening months of the 2025/26 season. Stuart Pearce actually thinks Enzo Maresca’s side missed a trick not signing a Premier League centre-half.
The Blues haven’t been helped by a string of injuries to several first-team stars, but many people may feel they should be able to manage better.
Despite the investment that has gone into building the squad, Maresca still has concerns over two positions at Chelsea, the goalkeeper and central defender spots. Therefore, it is intriguing that Chelsea have transfer funds available for January if they decide to spend.
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Stuart Pearce claims Marc Guehi would have been perfect for Chelsea
According to Stuart Pearce, Chelsea should have signed Crystal Palace and England star Marc Guehi in the summer to strengthen their defence.
Pearce told talkSPORT: “There is a kid that plays across town in South London called Marc Guehi that would have been a brilliant [signing]. I don’t know where they put money down for him, but if I were Chelsea, Manchester United, you name it, this is the kid you want coming through the door. He doesn’t have to move home if he wants to stay in London. It would have been perfect.”
Guehi, who came through the Chelsea academy, was linked with a return to Stamford Bridge during the previous transfer window. He ended up staying put at Selhurst Park, though.
Back in August, Chelsea deemed Guehi’s £40m price tag too high and walked away from a potential swoop.
It is a credit to the quality of the 25-year-old centre-back that he has moved on from a summer of transfer speculation to put in some outstanding performances for a Palace side still unbeaten this season.
Chelsea linked with Marc Guehi again
With less than a year left on his current deal with Palace, Guehi’s future is still very much up in the air.
Reports this week claim that Chelsea have been in touch with Guehi’s agents as the centre-half remains on their transfer radar. He’s also being monitored by rivals Tottenham, too.
If Chelsea have any realistic chance to re-sign Guehi, whether that’s in the summer or in January, they should push hard to complete a transfer for one of the Premier League’s very best central defenders.
While the Blues are lacking leadership and consistency in the heart of defence, Guehi has it in bucket loads.
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