Manchester Metropolis have accomplished the signing of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi for £20m.
The England defender, who has been linked with a few of Europe’s prime golf equipment, virtually joined Liverpool final summer season, and was out of contract on the finish of this season.
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Guehi had a medical on Sunday after agreeing private phrases with Metropolis and has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract.
The Chelsea academy product has performed 188 instances for Palace since becoming a member of from Swansea in 2021, with 33 of his appearances coming this season as they launched into their first Convention League marketing campaign.
His arrival follows Metropolis’s signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5m on 9 January.
Guehi stated he’s “actually comfortable and extremely proud” to turn out to be a Metropolis participant.
“This transfer feels just like the end result of all of the laborious work I’ve put into my profession,” he added.
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“I’m now at one of the best membership in England and a part of an unbelievable squad of gamers. It feels good to have the ability to say that.”
Why have Man Metropolis signed Guehi?
Guehi made 20 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace this season [AFP via Getty Images]
Metropolis first began talks with Guehi, 25, earlier this month following accidents to defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias.
For Saturday’s defeat at neighbours Manchester United, Metropolis fielded an again 4 containing three gamers aged 21 or beneath – Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne – alongside 30-year-old Nathan Ake. Alleyne was changed at half-time by fellow 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly.
Defending was their massive weak point towards United, who received the sport 2-0, and Guehi’s arrival will add some much-needed expertise and high quality to Metropolis’s backline.
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On statistics compiled because the begin of final season, Guehi ranks inside the highest 10 amongst Premier League centre-backs for clear sheets, duels received, aerial duels received and line-breaking passes. This season he’s within the prime 10 for interceptions, recoveries and duel success.
He may even present robust management, having captained Palace to victory over Metropolis in final Might’s FA Cup closing, in addition to enjoying a serious half in England’s run to the ultimate of the 2024 European Championship.
How will he match into the group?
Guehi’s means on the ball is one thing Metropolis will profit from – significantly given how deep groups are inclined to defend towards them.
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When Metropolis misplaced at United on Saturday, their central defenders got probably the most time and area on the ball, however with John Stones, Gvardiol and Dias out, they lacked the standard to make the most of this.
Proficient at passing and dribbling with each toes whereas being a powerful provider of the ball, Guehi is ready to get his groups up the pitch when not instantly pressed.
Metropolis lacked gamers who had been capable of swap play or hit the ball lengthy when United dedicated additional defenders to at least one aspect. This can be a power of Guehi’s and with each toes. Throughout everything of final season, Guehi performed a mean of seven.3 lengthy passes per 90 minutes at a forty five.7% go accuracy.
When Metropolis have had possession this season, they’ve tended to maintain each central defenders again whereas their full-backs push on. At instances, midfielder Bernardo Silva has cut up the centre-backs to type a short lived again three.
Guehi made 61 tackles for Palace final season, typically successful the ball again on the left flank, in addition to larger up the pitch [Opta]
Guehi’s versatility is beneficial right here. For Palace and England, he has proven a capability to play as both left or right-sided centre-half in a again 4, and all three positions of a again three too.
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With Metropolis typically opting to play with three on the again in possession, Guehi will really feel snug nonetheless he’s used.
Though his aerial means will not be his greatest attribute, Guehi competes strongly in floor duels in the direction of the left aspect of the pitch.
His means to utilise his physique and sort out with each toes after stepping up into the opposition half shall be a much-needed high quality in overlaying for Metropolis’s attacking full-backs as they try to press groups excessive.
Guardiola has spoken fondly of Khusanov and Alleyne in latest weeks however clearly feels management is required within the absence of Dias. Guehi’s pedigree as a Premier League captain will present a guiding voice for Metropolis’s younger defenders.
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With Stones and Ake typically injured and heading in the direction of the latter a part of their Metropolis careers, this seems an astute purchase.
Guehi and Semenyo offers present long-term pondering – evaluation
Shamoon Hafez, Manchester Metropolis reporter
Manchester Metropolis have signalled their intent with the signings of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo on this switch window, however defeat by Manchester United on Saturday has left them seven factors behind Arsenal within the Premier League title race.
With Pep Guardiola’s aspect nonetheless competing on all 4 fronts, each gamers will bolster a squad hit by plenty of accidents once more this season, and can achieve this for the long run, having signed five-and-a-half yr contracts.
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Guehi and Semenyo had the choose of quite a few different golf equipment however selected Metropolis.
Sources say the signing of Guehi will not be a knee-jerk response or panic purchase due to the problems in defence – he’s a participant that they’ve admired for some time and would have pushed to signal in the summertime. However the alternative to finish a deal took place this month and proved too good to show down.
Although Guehi was within the closing months of his Crystal Palace contract, a £20m charge is modest for a participant classed as probably the greatest English defenders – one who may simply have joined Liverpool, and who remains to be comparatively younger at 25.