Chelsea battling Liverpool for EPL defender: Reports

Chelsea are locked in a battle with Liverpool for the services of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to Caught Offside. The Englishman has entered the final year of his contract with the Eagles and is ready to take the next step in his career this year.

The Reds are already locked in talks to prise him away before transfer deadline day. Guehi is highly regarded in the Premier League after some rock-solid performances with Palace in recent seasons.

The Merseyside club see the 25-year-old as a long-term solution to their centre-back position, especially since Ibrahima Konate's future remains unclear. The Frenchman's contract also expires at the end of this season, and he is yet to sign a new deal.

Recent reports have suggested that Guehi has already agreed personal terms ahead of a move to Anfield. However, Liverpool's £35m offer for the player has been rejected by Crystal Palace.

Chelsea have now entered the race and are plotting to take advantage of the delay in negotiations. The Englishman rose through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, before the Blues sold him to the Eagles in 2021.

Enzo Maresca remains open to defensive reinforcements, especially if Axel Disasi ends up leaving this month. However, even if the Frenchman stays, Chelsea are likely to consider a Bosman move for Guehi next summer.

Have Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland?

Chelsea are working on a premature end to Marc Guiu's loan spell at Sunderland, according to The BBC. The Blues have been pushed into troubled water following the injury to Liam Delap.

The Englishman ruptured his hamstring early during the weekend's game against Fulham, and is expected to be sidelined for a while. The situation has left Enzo Maresca with only Joao Pedro as his senior striker option in the squad.

Chelsea immediately put Nicolas Jackson's loan spell to Bayern Munich on hold. The Bavarians had agreed on a £13m loan fee, with a £56.2m option to buy for the Senegalese, who had already travelled to Munich for his medicals.

While Blues have brought Jackson back, they have given the Bundesliga champions the option to sign him permanently this summer. The London giants wants to use the funds from the sale to buy Sporting's Conrad Harder, but that avenue looks close with the player set to join RB Leipzig. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy have now decided to call back Guiu from his loan spell instead.

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