Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, a £20m move to address their defensive injury crisis. This follows the signing of Antoine Semenyo as Pep Guardiola's side chase a six-point deficit to Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

The Guehi acquisition caps a £414m squad overhaul since January 2024, with City selling high-earning veterans like Kevin De Bruyne to fund new arrivals. Their strong financial position, with £144m in profits over three years, allows aggressive spending while staying within profit and sustainability rules, unlike many rivals.

For City, Guehi offers immediate leadership and Premier League experience, having captained Palace to an FA Cup win over City and starred for England. His potential arrival may signal the end for John Stones, whose contract expires this summer. Arsenal, also pursuing Guehi, now face a strengthened challenger.