Manchester City’s reported interest in Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze may not be good news for Arsenal or Chelsea, and not just because they were linked with an interest in Eze themselves.
The Guardian reports that Pep Guardiola’s side are weighing up an approach to Palace for the England man as they eye a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. The City man has been linked with Saudi side Al-Ittihad and has just one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Eze has impressed with his performances for Palace in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, so much so that he was included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the summer’s European Championships. He made three substitute appearances during the tournament as the Three Lions made it all the way to the final, losing out on the trophy to Spain.
Palace are said to be ‘determined’ to keep hold of Eze this season, but his contract contains a release clause of £60 million, rising up to £70 million with add-ons. City are reported to have a long-term interest in the Palace man and were close to making a move for him last summer.
If they do so this time, then it could have a knock-on effect on the future of Palace and England teammate Marc Guehi. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the defender, who starred for England in this summer’s tournament.
If Palace are forced to sell Eze to City this summer, with them triggering the release clause in his contract, then it is going to make them more resistant to any moves for Guehi that may come along. There has been no indication of a release clause being present in the defender’s contract, meaning that clubs will have to meet Palace’s valuation, which reportedly stands at £65 million.
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If Eze is sold and Palace earns up to £70 million from that sale, then it is likely that the price for Guehi will only go up. The Eagles have already cashed in on Michael Olise, who has moved to Bayern Munich; if they sell Eze too, then they are likely to do everything that they can to avoid losing a third key player in the same transfer window.
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