Alious**Crystal Palace Plot Move for Tottenham Target as Marc Guehi’s Summer Exit Looms**
Crystal Palace faced a major decision on transfer deadline day when Tottenham made a surprise £70 million bid for Marc Guehi. Despite the substantial offer for their captain—who has just 18 months left on his contract—the Eagles deemed it too late in the window to sanction such a pivotal sale.
In a swift reaction to their rejected bid, Spurs turned their attention to Burnley’s Maxime Esteve, tabling a £20 million offer. However, Burnley were equally reluctant to part ways with the defender so late in the window. As a result, Tottenham ended the January transfer period without securing an additional center-back to join recent signing Kevin Danso.
Now, the tables seem to be turning ahead of the summer window.
**Palace Eye Esteve as Guehi’s Replacement**
According to *The Sun*, Crystal Palace are preparing for Guehi’s likely departure at the end of the season and have identified Esteve—the very player Spurs targeted—as a prime candidate to fill the defensive void. Journalist Alan Nixon also reports that Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg is under consideration, with Palace potentially needing more than one defensive reinforcement. This comes after Chelsea recalled Trevoh Chalobah and Chadi Riad suffered a serious injury, further depleting Palace’s defensive options.
Palace are bracing for a bidding war, as Newcastle and Chelsea are also set to compete with Tottenham for Guehi’s signature.
**Chelsea Confident in Guehi Reunion Despite Spurs Interest**
While Tottenham remain heavily linked with the England international, sources from *Give Me Sport* suggest Chelsea are optimistic about re-signing Guehi. The Blues sold him to Palace for £18 million in 2021, but despite that history, they believe Guehi would favor a return to Stamford Bridge over a move to North London.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Palace’s defensive plans are taking shape—with Esteve emerging as a key target—and the battle for Guehi’s signature is poised to become one of the market’s most intriguing sagas.
Alious
