Chelsea have decided not to compete with Liverpool over a deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to reports.
Enzo Maresca has been dealt a major blow ahead of the new Premier League season next week as Levi Colwill has been ruled out for the majority of the campaign with an ACL injury.
Speaking after his side’s 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Friday night, Maresca indicated that Chelsea could enter the market for a new centre-back due to Colwill’s lengthy absence.
‘It is a priority for me,’ Maresca said.
‘Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him. We are also trying to find different solutions.’
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Guehi has already attracted interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United this summer but according to The Telegraph, a return to Chelsea is not currently an option as the FIFA Club World Cup holders are ‘prioritising other transfer targets’.
The 25-year-old, who came through Chelsea’s academy but made just two first-team appearances before joining Palace for £18 million four years ago, will be out of contract next summer.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Community Shield tie against Liverpool on Sunday, Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted Guehi will make the final call over his future.
‘Marc and me, we have the same fate but I can’t speak on behalf of Marc. In the end, it’s always the player’s decision and Marc will decide his future,’ Glasner said.
‘Of course, everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract, everybody who is connected to Crystal Palace at least. Everybody wants to keep the squad together because they did so well last season.
‘But again, I don’t know how often this happens here at Palace, keeping your top 15 to 16 players going into a new season when you’ve performed that well. That’s also a great achievement for the club but you never know what happens in this sometimes crazy transfer market.’
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