Manchester City Urged to Target Marc Guehi Amid Manuel Akanji Exit Links
With both Liverpool and Arsenal starting the season strongly with back-to-back wins, Manchester City already find themselves three points adrift in the title race. Yet, Pep Guardiola is unlikely to be distracted by early table standings, instead keeping his focus firmly on City’s upcoming clash with Brighton.
Off the pitch, the club’s hierarchy are prioritizing a strong finish to the summer transfer window, with player sales high on the agenda. Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave shortly, while Manuel Akanji has attracted serious interest.
Both Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen are keen on the Swiss defender, viewing him as a potential replacement for Marc Guehi and Piero Hincapie respectively.
Why City Should Target Guehi
City are open to moving Akanji on, but only if they can strengthen in return — and Marc Guehi could be the perfect solution. Palace’s captain is already admired at the Etihad, and prising him away as part of a wider deal would both bolster City’s back line and weaken Liverpool, who have been tracking the England international.
Valued at around £35 million, Guehi would add proven quality and resilience to a defence that has struggled for solidity in recent months. With John Stones and Nathan Ake frequently sidelined, Ruben Dias out of form, and younger options like Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusavov still developing, City lack a consistently reliable centre-half pairing.
By contrast, Guehi has already amassed 192 senior appearances for club and country. His pace, strength, and intelligence make him a natural fit for Guardiola’s high line, while his Premier League experience would allow him to slot straight into City’s setup.
The Transfer Battle
Liverpool remain strong contenders for Guehi’s signature, especially as their depth behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Joe Gomez looks thin, with 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni the only emerging option.
However, Palace may be more open to negotiating with City if Akanji is offered as a direct replacement. Journalist David Ornstein has reported that while Guehi is interested in Liverpool, he will only leave if the “conditions are right” in terms of role, game time, and package.
That leaves the door open for City. If they can position themselves smartly, they may not only secure one of the league’s most reliable defenders but also disrupt a rival’s recruitment strategy in the process.
Verdict
With Akanji attracting interest and Guehi open to a new challenge, Manchester City have a golden opportunity. Signing the 25-year-old would not only strengthen Guardiola’s defence but could also deliver a psychological blow to Liverpool in the title race.
The only question now: would Guehi choose City over Anfield?
