Crystal Palace agree fee for defender Marc Guehi with Chelsea

Crystal Palace have agreed a fee that could reach up to £20m for Chelsea’s Marc Guehi, with the England Under-21 defender now expected to become Patrick Vieira’s third signing since taking over at Selhurst Park.

Guehi, who impressed in two loan spells at Swansea and played for England in the Under-21 European Championship in March, has two years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and was wanted by several clubs in Germany as well as other Premier League sides including Southampton and West Ham.

Chelsea preferred to send the 21-year-old out on loan again, offering clubs an option to buy but Palace are determined to push through the purchase of a player who was part of England’s winning side at the Under-17 World Cup in 2017. It is understood that the deal agreed with Chelsea includes a sell-on clause and the opportunity to purchase Guehi back for the same fee agreed with another club.

Palace have already signed attacking midfielder Michael Olise from Reading for an undisclosed fee and goalkeeper Remi Matthews from Sunderland with Vieira keen to strengthen a squad that has lost several members from last season after their deals expired. Defender Joel Ward has now signed a new two-year contract but winger Andros Townsend appears likely to depart after failing to agree terms.

Kristian Wilson has been appointed as Palace’s first-team coach having worked with Vieira at Manchester City’s academy, New York City and Nice.