Manchester City is shifting its full attention to Marc Guéhi as the solution to a burgeoning defensive crisis at the Etihad. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club has opened talks with Crystal Palace for the 25-year-old captain. This follows the imminent arrival of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday after a £65 million move was finalized.

The urgency for Guéhi stems from a devastating run of injuries. Joško Gvardiol is out long-term with a tibial fracture, while Rúben Dias has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury. With John Stones also facing an indefinite spell on the sidelines, Pep Guardiola has been forced to recall 20-year-old Max Alleyne from his loan at Watford.

The battle for Guéhi will not be easy, as Liverpool and Bayern Munich remain heavily interested. While Palace previously held out for a premium, they may consider a January sale to avoid losing their captain for free when his contract expires in 2026. For City, securing Guéhi is now seen as essential to stabilizing a backline that has left them six points behind league leaders Arsenal.