Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Crystal Palace regarding the potential return of England defender Marc Guehi, with discussions centered around a unique discount clause that could facilitate the transfer.
Initial conversations between the two clubs began in early January and have continued throughout the month. Crystal Palace has set a substantial asking price of £60 million ($73m) for Guehi, though Chelsea views this figure as excessive given the defender has only 18 months remaining on his current contract.
The Blues, however, hold a significant advantage in negotiations thanks to a strategic sell-on clause included in Guehi's original transfer to Palace in 2021, which was valued at £18m ($22m). This clause not only entitles Chelsea to 20 percent of any future transfer fee but also grants them the right to match offers from other clubs. While there were discussions about potentially waiving this sell-on clause to streamline negotiations, Palace's high valuation appears to have influenced the potential discount structure.
Earlier plans to include defender Chalobah as part of the deal were abandoned, with Chelsea opting to handle that arrangement separately. The complexity of the potential transfer is further highlighted by Guehi's reported salary expectations of £170,000 per week, which would position him among Chelsea's highest-paid players under the club's current wage structure.
Despite Chelsea's evident interest in bringing Guehi back to Stamford Bridge, they have yet to submit a formal bid. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that Chelsea might postpone their pursuit unless Crystal Palace shows willingness to reduce their asking price, indicating that while the framework for a deal exists, significant hurdles remain before any transfer can be completed.
