Man City have made their intentions clear in the Premier League title race, with a move for Marc Guehi set to crown a £414m squad overhaul and underline their determination to chase down the leaders.
City have already seen an instant return from January business after Pep Guardiola completed the signing of Antoine Semenyo from AFC Bournemouth. The forward has hit the ground running, scoring twice and providing an assist in his first two matches.
City are now close to completing a second major deal after agreeing terms in principle with Crystal Palace for their captain Guehi, although the transfer has not yet been finalised.
Man City Act Amid Defensive Injury Crisis
The urgency behind City’s move comes amid an injury crisis in central defence and a growing points gap to Arsenal, who currently hold a six-point advantage after City drew their last three league games.
Although youngsters have stepped in admirably, City believe experience is vital in a title race.
Sources close to the club insist this is not a reactionary signing.
“This is not a knee-jerk transfer or a panic buy,” a City source said.
“Marc is a player the club has admired for a long time and someone they see as part of the long-term future.”
Man City’s £414m Rebuild and Financial Strength
Since January 2025, City have signed 14 players for a combined spend of around £414m, following a disappointing season in which they failed to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years.
Several senior figures who formed the backbone of City’s success—including Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish—were moved on in the summer, reducing both the wage bill and the average age of the squad.
Despite the scale of spending, City remain well within profit and sustainability rules. Their latest accounts show revenues of £694m for the year ending June 2025.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained why City retain such flexibility.
“City are in an incredibly strong financial position as far as PSR is concerned,” Maguire told BBC Sport.
“They’ve made profits of £144m over the last three years, while clubs are allowed to lose up to £105m. Their wage bill has also started to fall because some of the big earners have left.”
He added that:
“What City have been very good at is selling players,” Maguire said.
“They’ve generated around £350m profit from sales in the last three years. Spending big while selling well has been hugely beneficial.”
Man City See Guehi as Immediate Upgrade
At 25, Guehi is viewed as a ready-made solution who can slot straight into Guardiola’s starting XI. He captained Palace to an FA Cup victory over City last season and played a key role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.
Statistically, he ranks among the Premier League’s top centre-backs since last season for clean sheets, duels won, aerial duels and line-breaking passes, qualities City believe will bring calmness and authority to their defence.
A reported £20m fee for a proven international defender nearing the end of his contract is considered strong value.
Man City Move Puts Pressure on Arsenal
City’s aggressive January business has not gone unnoticed by Arsenal, who were also tracking Guehi and had hoped to move for him in the summer.
However, personal terms are not expected to be an issue for City, and the deal now appears to be heading toward completion.
Maguire believes Arsenal would still be capable of responding if required.
“If Arsenal need to spend £100m this month, they can do that,” he said.
“From a PSR point of view, they don’t have much to worry about.”
For now, Man City have sent a clear signal: this is not a panic response, but a calculated power play designed to reignite their title charge.
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