Marc Guéhi will leave Crystal Palace for free: Will Barça sign him?

In the past summer market, Crystal Palace rejected 42 million euros from Liverpool for the transfer of Marc Guéhi. The 25-year-old defender, an undisputed starter and captain of the London team, arrived at the club in 2021 from Chelsea for 23.4 'kilos,' and the board was hoping to renew his contract during his last year.

However, the Abidjan (Ivory Coast) native, who is a naturalized Englishman, has turned down offers from Palace and will leave for free at the end of 2025/26. The 'Eagles' own coach, Oliver Glasner, confirmed Guéhi's decision, who will be able to negotiate as a free agent with any team from January 1.

"I think Marc has already told us that he is not going to sign a renewal, so he will leave next year," Glasner commented in the press conference before the match against Bournemouth (3-3), where the '6' played the full 90 minutes again.

Marc Guéhi: A Bargain That Barcelona Could Take Advantage of in 2026

So far this season, the England international has 1 goal and 1 assist in 13 matches (1,141 minutes) with Palace. The defender has established himself as one of the most reliable center-backs in the Premier League, leading the London team to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield this year.

Guéhi, standing at 1.82 m, has aerial play as a strength, but is also very secure in playing the ball out from the back. In total, he has 9 goals and 5 assists in 167 official matches with the 'Eagles'. Furthermore, at 25 years old, he has only suffered one knee injury in early 2024, which kept him out for three months.

Marc Guéhi in a match against Bournemouth

With a salary in the region of 3 million net per year, Marc represents a real bargain that the greats of the Premier League are looking to take advantage of from next January. The center-back can play without problems on both sides, which would be a fantastic reinforcement for a Barcelona that still misses Iñigo Martínez.

For the moment, Hansi Flick has not found the ideal central defensive duo in 25/26, although Eric García has been performing at a high level and Ronald Araujo has also been important in offensive tasks. Pau Cubarsí has not quite settled in on the left, while Andreas Christensen remains an alternative.

Barça does not rule out establishing the signing of a center-back as a market priority

In that sense, although it is expected that Eric will renew before the end of the year and Christensen also intends to stay, Deco and Flick remain attentive to the possibility of signing another center-back in the summer of 2026.

Due to his characteristics, age, and price, Marc Guéhi is already one of the most interesting alternatives for a Barça that, next summer, in theory, will finally be able to operate in the market without restrictions due to 'Fair Play' issues.

The return to Spotify Camp Nou will allow them to operate again under the 1:1 rule, and it is likely that the club will go for a centre forward and a couple of defenders after the World Cup. This year, Barça also had Jonathan Tah 'in their sights', but Bayern Munich finally secured the services of the German player.

Will the 'culés' be able to anticipate Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League's 'big six' in the 'race' for Guéhi? With a free agent status, the center-back will have every advantage to negotiate his destination and contract next year.

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