£65m price for top Chelsea target falling fast as Champions League rivals expect “compromise” | OneFootball

Transfers are a zero sum game, to some degree. There is only one copy of each player to go around. That’s why paying attention to the actions and rumours of our rivals is very important and informative.

And Newcastle United are very much Chelsea’s rivals these days. One of our fellow Champions League qualifiers this season, they’ve been better than us over the last few years, establishing their new project while ours has still been under construction.

Chelsea set for first battle of many against Magpies

Marc Guehi marshalls the Crystal Palace defence. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

In terms of pursuing players, we can expect to come up against them quite regularly, and it seems that’s already begun with our mutual interest in Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace. Luke Edwards’ piece in the Daily Telegraph is all about the Magpies and their attempts to sign the defender, and a lot of it applies to Chelsea too.

They say that Eddie Howe’s team were quoted £65m for the England defender a year ago and baulked at it, but are now expecting a “compromise can be reached” with Palace now Guehi is in the final year of his contract.

Chelsea can expect a similar situation. Guehi will cost a lot, especially if there’s a bidding war beginning, but nothing like the £65m of a year ago.

Chelsea must persuade Guehi and other targets

As much as anything, it will be about persuading Guehi that joining us is the best next step for his career. At 24 years old, he’s ready for his career defining move, and will want to go somewhere that looks upwardly mobile and ready to win trophies.

A return to the club where he came through the ranks may be a tempting proposition for the England international – let’s hope so, anyway.