MANCHESTER CITY have sealed a sensational £20million swoop for Marc Guehi.
The Crystal Palace captain, out of contract in the summer, is travelling to Manchester this weekend to undergo a medical ahead of finalising his five-and-a-half year deal.
City have stolen a march on Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool who were all lining up summer deals to land Guehi as a free agent.
Talks had been held with a number of clubs over a free transfer, which would have seen Guehi bag a huge signing on fee.
But City stepped up their interest after injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias earlier this month.
They are understood to have offered a deal that would match anything the England defender would have been offered at the end of the season.
Palace pulled the plug on a £35m deadline day move to Anfield last summer.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner had said the club would ask for more, and were believed to want £40m, to sanction a deal this month, though they eventually agreed on £20m before bonuses and a sell-on clause.
Chelsea will land 20 per cent, around £4m, as part of the £18m deal which took him to Palace from Stamford Bridge in 2021.
City have long monitored Guehi, with Guardiola using their December trip to Selhurst Park to keep a close eye on him.
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Guehi will not be involved in Crystal Palace’s game at Sunderland on Saturday – with Glasner saying the club must sign a replacement this month.
The centre-back has made 33 appearances for Palace this season, registering seven goal contributions.
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