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“£70m Deal: A Perfect Deadline Signing for Ange? Tottenham Eye £75m Star This Summer, but Chelsea Likely to Block Move
Radu Dragusin has become the latest casualty at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Romanian central defender expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season and several months of the following campaign due to an ACL injury. Ange Postecoglou’s injury woes have worsened, although he will be relieved by the returns of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Spurs made a last-minute attempt to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during the winter transfer window, offering £70 million, but the bid was rejected by the Eagles, who were unwilling to part with such a key player midway through the season. According to The Standard (citing Sky Sports), Tottenham is expected to revisit their pursuit of the 24-year-old in the summer.
However, Spurs will face competition from Chelsea, who are also in the market for a central defender. Enzo Maresca is looking to strengthen his squad with one or two new centre-backs. Early reports from Football Talk in January suggested Chelsea were in pole position to sign Guehi, and they are unlikely to be deterred by Tottenham’s interest.
Chelsea’s need for a central defender comes as no surprise, especially given their recent struggles in the Premier League. While Maresca has squad depth, the quality to challenge for the top spots is lacking, particularly after Wesley Fofana’s injury. The manager will likely look to strengthen the defence in the summer.
Marc Guehi, who previously spent 14 years in Chelsea’s academy before joining Crystal Palace in 2021 for regular first-team football, could be tempted to return to his old club. The rivalry between Chelsea and Tottenham could also influence his decision, potentially ruling out Spurs as a viable option.
Last summer, Palace valued Guehi at around £75 million, but with the player entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and likely to depart in the summer, Chelsea could benefit from a discount if they pursue the defender later in the year.
