Arsenal is turning his attention to Crystal Palace and England centre back Mark Guech as part of his defensive strengthening plan, according to Athletic.
The 24-year-old emerged as a strong candidate after failing to complete a deal with Bournemouth Dean Huizen, who instead chose to move to Real Madrid.
Arsenal initially wanted a cover option as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalheis had solidified as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice defensive pairing.
Guehi’s contract status makes him an attractive and potentially affordable option with just over 12 months left.
Mark Guech warmed up the Arsenal bench
Despite Crystal Palace’s strong performance, Guehe may be hesitant to move from the club where he is the captain and guaranteed starter to a starter who competes for a limited number of minutes.
This could affect his visibility to create his position with the England team for next year’s World Cup.
Arteta’s team depth is relatively strong in the back, but with injuries and arriving in the looming departure, leadership from sports director Andrea Berta is looking for another centre-back to ensure robustness in multiple competitions
Players like Kieran Tierney have left, and speculation surrounds the future of Oleksander Zinchenko, putting even more pressure on recruiting versatile defenders who can intervene when needed.
Guehi’s contract status has also attracted rapid interest from other Premier League clubs.
Newcastle United has been denied a £65 million bid, marking him as one of the biggest defensive prospects available.
Chelsea is also linked to the alumni association, and there are reports that he is monitoring the opportunity to re-sign him.
Can Arsenal convince the palace defender?
To secure Guehi, Arsenal needs to create an attractive case, showing both the development opportunities and the value of being part of the title contention project under Arteta.
They were able to launch a bid of nearly £40 million, expecting the palace could accept reduced fees given the expiration of Guehi’s contract deadline.
Ultimately, it comes down to Gehi’s own ambition. If he guarantees a start and steady leadership over a rotation at a bigger club, it could affect whether Arsenal could bring him to Emirates Stadium.
Former British boss Gareth Southgate praised Guech following Euro 2024, calling him “exceptional” and confirmed England’s trust in him.
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