Chelsea encourages £50k-per-week defender to facilitate £70m move

According to recent reports, Chelsea has requested one of their transfer targets to actively pursue a move to Stamford Bridge this month. The club aims to reduce the player’s price tag before the January transfer window closes.

Chelsea is expected to be active in the transfer market this month, but the team is likely to see several departures before bringing in new faces. Players such as Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Cesare Casadei are reportedly on their way out.

Despite the potential exits, Chelsea is still looking to strengthen their squad. The club has now asked their primary transfer target to push for a move away from his current team.

Simon Phillips reports that Chelsea is intensifying their efforts to sign Marc Guehi in the latter half of the January transfer window. The Blues have reportedly asked the defender to pressure Crystal Palace into letting him go, in an attempt to make the transfer more affordable.

Guehi’s current £50,000-per-week contract at Crystal Palace expires in 18 months, and he has shown little interest in renewing. Chelsea is keen to bring him back to Stamford Bridge after selling him to Palace in 2021, where he has since impressed enough to become a regular for England.

However, Crystal Palace has set a £70m price tag on Guehi, which has deterred potential buyers. To circumvent this, Chelsea has reportedly been holding internal discussions about the situation and has reached out to Guehi, asking him to push for a move back to West London in hopes of lowering his price.

Nicknamed an “absolute tank” by former teammates, Guehi’s versatility in defense would provide valuable cover for Chelsea’s backline. If the move for Guehi falls through, Chelsea is also considering other options, including recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace or scouting other defenders like Goncalo Inacio, Tomas Araujo, and Ousmane Diomande.