Exclusive: What Crystal Palace have just told Marc Guehi after Arsenal show interest in signing him

Amid Arsenal’s search for a new centre-back this summer, Mikel Arteta and his recruitment team have landed on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

24-year-old Guehi has long been an exceptional talent in the Premier League, having now amassed 98 appearances in the competition for Palace.

But the Englishman’s reputation has enjoyed a steep rise after some brilliant performances for Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.

At the expense of Harry Maguire, Guehi was installed as England’s left-sided centre-back, demonstrating his versatility as a right-footer.

This summer, Arsenal need to recruit better back up and competition for both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in particular, who doesn’t have a natural replacement.

And to that end, TBR Football understands that Arsenal are interested in signing Guehi, even if formal talks haven’t taken place yet.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also considering a move this summer, although Palace have now made their position very clear.

Crystal Palace won’t sell Marc Guehi for less than £60m amid Arsenal interest

TBR understands that Palace have told Guehi’s representatives that he will not be sold for less than £60m this summer.

And after losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich this summer already, Palace want to engage Guehi in talks over a new deal to stay in south London.

That being said, unlike Olise and Eberechi Eze, Guehi is not understood to have a release clause included in his current contract.

Therefore, it remains to be seen if interested clubs would be willing to meet Palace’s steep but fair asking price, one befitting of an international star with a decade of good football ahead.

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Interestingly, Arsenal are reportedly also interested in Eze, and may end up having to choose which of Oliver Glasner’s stars they would rather pursue.

But perhaps any advance from the Gunners for Guehi will ultimately depend on their success in signing Riccardo Calafiori.

Despite Arsenal’s deal for Calafiori somewhat stalling, there’s still optimism that the transfer can be completed.

And given Edu and Arteta’s need to be mindful of PSR, it seems unlikely that the club will shell-out on two centre-backs in one summer.