Manchester City are close to signing England defender Mark Gay from Crystal Palace.
A deal has yet to be agreed but City are likely to seal a £20m deal for the centre-back, who has withdrawn from the Crystal Palace squad ahead of Saturday’s game against Sunderland.
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Guehi will become City’s second January signing, following the £62.5m arrival of Antoine Semenho from Bournemouth, and will help ease Guardiola’s defensive injury crisis with Josco Gvaldiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones all sidelined.
The cut-price fee is likely to rise with bonuses and a sell-on clause, as Gueye’s contract expires at the end of the season and Palace could lose their captain on a free transfer.
Geshe was close to joining Liverpool on the final day of the summer transfer window when a deal worth £35m was agreed, but Palace pulled out of the deal after it was too late to find a replacement.
But while Liverpool still like Guhi, City have moved on to buy a player they have admired over the years.
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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said: “According to the latest information, the deal with Mark is in the final stages. We cannot confirm it but it is not completed yet. The result is that Mark will not play for us tomorrow.”
“It happens when players want to move. It looks like it has happened now. Everyone wants Mark to stay permanently. I have spoken to him and, of course, it is just a matter between us. Mark has proven that in the summer transfer window and throughout the autumn that he is 100 per cent committed to the team and Palace.”
Marc Guehi lifted Crystal Palace’s first major trophy in their history, beating Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final (The FA via Getty Images)
City have spent more than £400m in the past 12 months and Guerhy’s arrival could lead to Stones leaving in the summer, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
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Guardiola has said Dias will return soon, but Gvaldiol is likely to miss the rest of the season, with youngsters Abdukodir Kusanov and Max Alleyn filling in at centre-back for the past three games.
Ghey will go on to become Palace’s most successful captain in their history after helping them win their first two trophies, beating Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final and Liverpool in the Community Shield.
