Former Chelsea defender and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is likely to be a man in demand in January.
Guehi, who left Chelsea for Palace in 2021, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.
It means that the Eagles could be forced to sell him on the cheap in January to avoid losing the centre-back on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Chelsea will be owed 20% of Guehi’s transfer fee if he is sold, thanks to a sell-on clause.
Chelsea opt against making Marc Guehi a top target for January
In the previous transfer window, Chelsea thought about re-signing Guehi from Palace. In the end, though, the Blues did not make a bid for the 25-year-old.
Based on reports, it is also unlikely that Chelsea make an offer for Guehi when the market reopens in January.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have decided that the England international will not be a top target in the winter transfer window.
The same outlet claims that Enzo Maresca still has concerns about his central defence, which follows Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, but it does not look like the Club World Cup winners view Guehi as the solution.
Colwill is not Maresca’s only injury problem right now. Chelsea will also be without Dario Essugo after he picked up an injury while on international duty with Portugal’s Under-21 side.
Chelsea’s stance on signing a new central defender in January
While Chelsea may not be keen on signing Guehi, they still appear to be open to bringing in a new centre-half next year.
The same TEAMtalk report says the Blues adding another centre-back to their squad when the transfer window reopens is not being ruled out.
Until then, Maresca will have to make do with Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile.
Youngsters Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato can also play in central defence. It has already been claimed that Chelsea have faith that Hato can succeed at centre-back.
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