Inside Chelsea's move for Marc Guehi and the loophole that could lead to a cut-price deal, new role for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Pep Guardiola's own goal over Kyle Walker's impending exit: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN
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Chelsea’s initial move for Marc Guehi stumbled owing to concerns over the overall cost of bringing the Crystal Palace captain to Stamford Bridge. Initial high-level talks over a potential return for Guehi, who started his career at Stamford Bridge, to return to Chelsea were held in early January and have been ongoing and today Mail Sport can take you inside those discussions.
![[Chelsea included a 20 per cent sell-on clause when they sold Guehi to Crystal Palace in 2021]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/11/94161301-14291601-image-a-6_1737026006003.jpg)
It was established that Palace would look for a fee of around £60million for the England international, who has just 18 months to run on his contract. There was a feeling that an offer of between £45m-£50m would have been enough to coax Palace to the negotiating table.
![[The Blues have given serious consideration to launching a swoop for Guehi this month]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/11/94162637-14291601-image-a-21_1737027809708.jpg)
Chelsea are well-placed to launch a move Guehi. In selling the defender to Palace for £18million in 2021, Chelsea included a 20 percent sell-on clause and rights to match any transfer offer for the rival club. Crucially, the sell-on clause was viewed as a vital component in any move for Guehi, with the contractual quirk enabling Chelsea to effectively secure a discount on the defender’s transfer fee.
![[Axel Disasi is among the players Chelsea are open to selling to help fund their interest in Guehi]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/11/94161467-14291601-image-a-8_1737026250058.jpg)
High-level talks over a potential return for Marc Guehi to Chelsea were held this month. Chelsea included a 20 per cent sell-on clause when they sold Guehi to Crystal Palace in 2021. The Blues have given serious consideration to launching a swoop for Guehi this month.
![[Trevoh Chalobah, who was on a loan spell at Palace, was a pawn in talks between the sides]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/11/94161139-14291601-image-a-4_1737025802798.jpg)
For instance, if Chelsea had agreed a £50m fee for the 24-year-old, the Stamford Bridge side would have been entitled to a £10m discount, bringing the price down to just £40m. That, understandably, is not an ideal scenario for Palace as they aim to get as much as possible for their prized asset.
![[Chelsea's decision this week to recall Chalobah has frustrated high-ranking officials at Palace]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/11/94161397-14291601-image-a-7_1737026167163.jpg)
