Manchester City now leading the race to SIGN Top-class Crystal Palace star as long-term successor for their World-class player — £35m should be enough to seal the deal in January because.

Manchester City had been watching the Premier League from a quiet distance this season, not because they were struggling, not because Pep Guardiola had run out of ideas, but because something was changing quietly inside the Etihad. Hidden meetings, quiet scouting missions, long strategic planning sessions behind closed doors, everything pointed to one thing. Manchester City were preparing for life after some of their biggest names. And at the top of the list stood one player who had shaped their defence for years, John Stones. Not because Stones was finished, not because he was unwanted, but because Manchester City were thinking ten years ahead, as they always do. They were crafting the next generation. They were searching for the next defensive leader. And that search led them to one man, Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace. What started as a rumour in the summer had grown into something powerful by December. It was no longer whispers. It was now a reality. Manchester City had moved into pole position. Every insider source, every journalist with access, every well-informed report was saying the same thing. Manchester City were now leading the race. And the reason was simple, not dramatic, not exaggerated, but real. Marc Guehi’s contract was running down, Crystal Palace were beginning to feel the pressure, and Manchester City were ready with a plan so complete that nobody else could keep up.

The story did not begin this winter. It started in the summer when Marc Guehi almost left Crystal Palace. Everything was almost done. The talks were advanced, the atmosphere around the club felt like something big was coming, and Palace were preparing for life without him. But something collapsed at the last moment. Palace could not secure a replacement in time. The move fell apart. Guehi remained at the club, and everyone promised they would revisit everything in January. And now January was almost here. Manchester City had prepared from the first day of the season. They knew this moment would come, and they were ready to strike when everyone else was still thinking. That was why the race had changed so quickly. Arsenal admired him. Chelsea watched him. Manchester United monitored him. Even Liverpool had internal discussions. But none of them could move as fast, as smart, or as confidently as Manchester City. Pep Guardiola wanted a defender who could carry the ball, who could defend one-on-one, who could remain calm under pressure, and who could grow into a leader for the next decade. Guehi fit the profile perfectly. He had the athletic strength, he had the positional intelligence, he had the composure of a player ten years older than him, and he had the mentality of someone who wanted more. And Manchester City had noticed all of this long before anyone else began to take him seriously.

The price was the next big talking point. Crystal Palace did not want to lose him for free, not when he was one of the most respected defenders in the league. So they accepted reality. If they were going to lose him, they wanted something meaningful in return. Reports suggested £35 million would be enough. Not £70 million, not £90 million, not some exaggerated figure. Just £35 million. And Manchester City felt that fee was extremely fair, almost perfect, almost too good to ignore. For a long-term successor to John Stones, a player who could grow into one of the league’s biggest defensive names, £35 million was a bargain. And once Manchester City saw that figure, they accelerated everything. They knew clubs like Chelsea or Arsenal might wait until the summer, when competition would double, and when Palace might raise the asking price. City wanted no such drama. They wanted a clean, organised, strategic January deal. They wanted the player secured early before the window became chaotic. Everything about the timing favoured City. Guehi’s contract situation gave them leverage. Palace’s financial needs gave them an opening. The January market gave them control. And Manchester City never waste control when they have it.

Behind the scenes, Crystal Palace were preparing for a difficult decision. On one hand, they knew Guehi was crucial to their defensive structure. He was a leader, an organiser, a calm voice, the one player who remained composed even when the rest of the team lost control. Losing him mid-season was dangerous. But on the other hand, losing him for nothing was worse. His contract would run out soon. He had not signed an extension. And every source close to Crystal Palace admitted that the club had accepted the reality. Selling him in January was better than losing him for free. They needed the money. They needed the stability. They needed a plan for the future. And they knew big clubs were coming. So they braced themselves. They prepared for the conversations. And when Manchester City came knocking with a clear structure and a clean financial offer, the pressure became stronger. Palace were beginning to understand that selling now was the most logical path.

Marc Guehi himself was entering the most important moment of his career. He had grown quickly at Crystal Palace. He had shown leadership qualities. He had matured into one of the best young defenders in the Premier League. But every player like him eventually reaches a stage where they start thinking about trophies, Champions League nights, global recognition, and the chance to test themselves at the very highest level. And Manchester City were offering all of that. It was not just a transfer. It was a door to a different football world. A world of Premier League titles, Champions League ambitions, Club World Cups, UEFA Super Cups, FA Cups, and Carabao Cups. A world of training with Ruben Dias, with Josko Gvardiol, with Nathan Ake, with John Stones himself. A world of playing under a manager who turns good defenders into world-class defenders. That environment could transform Guehi. And he knew it. Everyone close to him knew it too. This was not just another transfer rumour. This was the biggest opportunity of his career so far.

Manchester United’s interest made the story even more dramatic. United had been monitoring him for two years. Mick Brown, their former chief scout, had talked about the club’s desire to sign him. Erik ten Hag had shown interest before. Ruben Amorim, the new manager, also liked him. But Manchester United were not ready with a formal plan. They were still reorganising. They were still rebuilding. They were still figuring out which players they would lose to the Africa Cup of Nations, which positions needed priority, and which budget they could commit. Manchester City were already five steps ahead. That was the difference. Wishes were not enough. Interest was not enough. Manchester City came with intention, structure, timing, and strategy. And that was why they were leading the race.

Chelsea also considered him, because he was originally from their academy, but Chelsea were dealing with other financial questions, squad balance, and their own inconsistent form. Arsenal admired him too, but Arsenal were already loaded with defenders and focused on midfield reinforcements. Liverpool were watching him, but Liverpool had other priorities, especially with their inconsistent form this season. Manchester City stood alone at the front. They were the only club with one clear message: they were ready to make this happen in January.

The pressure on Crystal Palace grew daily. Every insider update reported the same thing. Palace were reluctant, but not stubborn. They knew what was coming. The defender was too valuable to lose for nothing. And £35 million was not only acceptable but extremely helpful. That money could be used to sign a new centre-back, maybe two. It could strengthen their midfield. It could support their manager in the final part of the season. Palace were one of those clubs who needed financial stability as much as they needed good performances. This deal could bring both. That was why everything was moving quickly.

For Manchester City, January was becoming a defining moment. They needed to prepare for the next phase of the squad. Kyle Walker was ageing. John Stones had suffered injury issues. Pep wanted a defender who could handle the long-term load. Someone reliable. Someone healthy. Someone young but experienced. Someone hungry. Guehi fit everything. And once Pep Guardiola approves a player, Manchester City move like a machine. Meetings are held. Contracts are drafted. Representatives are contacted. A full structure is built quietly. And the moment the window opens, everything happens fast.

That was why all roads were pointing to one conclusion: Marc Guehi to Manchester City was closer than ever. Not confirmed yet. Not completed. But the direction was clear. Manchester City were in the driver’s seat. They had the momentum. They had the financial power. They had the long-term project. They had the manager. They had the timing. All that remained was the final negotiation with Crystal Palace.

And when January arrives with its chaos, with its headlines, with its rumours, with its unexpected twists, one story seems almost too strong to slow down. Manchester City and Marc Guehi. A defender ready for the next stage. A club preparing for its future. A transfer that could shape the Premier League for the next ten years. The window will decide everything. The talks will decide everything. But right now, Manchester City are closer than any other club to making it real. The race has been run. The momentum is theirs. And January is coming quickly.