Man City beat Liverpool, Real Madrid & Chelsea to key player signing

Man City have reportedly beaten Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea in reaching an agreement to sign one of the biggest transfer targets.

Manchester City is reportedly pushing to finalise a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as they look to rescue a season hampered by a severe defensive crisis. The former Premier League champions have faced a nightmare run of injuries, with Ruben Dias sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring issue and Josko Gvardiol out long-term following surgery on an ankle fracture sustained against Chelsea.

With John Stones also struggling for fitness, Pep Guardiola has identified Guehi as the primary target to stabilise a backline that has seen City fall six points behind leaders Arsenal.³

The race for the England international has been a high-stakes saga involving several of Europe’s elite. Liverpool was considered the frontrunner after a £35 million move famously collapsed on deadline day last summer, and the Reds remain keen on securing him, potentially as a free agent when his contract expires in June. However, City’s aggressive pursuit and an "important" contract proposal worth over $300,000 per week have threatened to hijack Liverpool's plans.

Beyond the domestic rivalry, Real Madrid has kept a close watch on the situation, with reports suggesting Guehi would be open to a "dream" move to the Spanish giants if they firm up their interest. Chelsea has also been linked with a move to bring their former academy star back to Stamford Bridge.

Despite the pressure from these global heavyweights, Manchester City appears to have taken the lead, ready to pay a January premium to ensure Guehi arrives at the Etihad immediately to aid their pursuit of silverware on four fronts.

Read the Latest AFCON 2025 News Today and Get Fresh updates as they drop via X and Facebook