Marc Guéhi: A possible dark horse for Barça in 2026

FC Barcelona's sporting management is reportedly already thinking about future additions to the first team. The Catalan club is said to have turned its attention to English center-back Marc Guéhi, a player for Premier League side Crystal Palace, who is currently 24 years old.

According to the latest rumors, Guéhi is under constant monitoring by Barça. The Blaugrana team is aware of the defender's potential, which is why they would reportedly like him to wear the Blaugrana shirt for the 2026/27 season.

The defender's talent has also kept him on the radar of other English heavyweights, such as Liverpool or Newcastle, as reported by Fabrizio Romano himself. In fact, the 'Reds' have already initiated contact with Palace regarding a potential transfer.

The problem when inquiring about the player arises when 'the Eagles' talk money, as they are reportedly demanding a large sum and are also unwilling to strengthen direct rivals.

In this context, Barça's sporting management would prefer to calmly evaluate the situation before making a move, as, although they would like to add him to the Blaugrana ranks, they do not want to pay an exorbitant fee that could later become a 'headache'.

Marc Guéhi will be a free agent in 2026: an opportunity for Barça

One strategy that could be employed by Barcelona is to wait for Marc Guéhi's contract with Crystal Palace to expire. The player's contract with the club ends in June 2026.

If the player decides to take this route to become a free agent and negotiate his signing with any club he chooses, Barça could move quickly to secure his signing, as they would only have to negotiate with him.

For now, Barcelona is proceeding with caution to make the best strategic moves regarding signings. The Blaugrana squad also currently has enough personnel to cover the defensive zone.

According to Transfermarkt, Guéhi's market value is €45 million. During the 2024/25 season, he played 3,931 minutes in 44 matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Furthermore, Barça is focusing its efforts on finalizing the potential signing of left winger Nico Williams, who is keen on a move to Barcelona to play for the Blaugrana.

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Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Barça's other rivals for Marc Guéhi

It seems that most of Marc Guéhi's potential destinations are attractive, as the player was also linked with Real Madrid. However, 'Los Blancos' are reportedly not inclined to make a move for the Ivory Coast native.

Meanwhile, another club that is reportedly very interested in securing Guéhi's services is Bayern Munich, a team that would like to strengthen with a player of the Englishman's qualities, but would also opt to use the same method as Barcelona.