Former Chelsea defender Marc Guehi has reportedly stated he could prefer other potential offers instead of a return to Stamford Bridge.
The England international was a target throughout the summer for Newcastle United, but a £75m valuation placed on the player by Crystal Palace prevented the Magpies from signing him.
After staying at Selhurst Park, the defender has since been named club captain and looks set to remain a Palace player for the rest of the season under Oliver Glasner.
Guehi's contract does expire in the summer of 2026 though, making the 24-year-old a very viable option for many clubs in the transfer market next season, as Palace may be more inclined to sell instead of possibly losing him on a free.
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Clubs set to circle as Guehi's contract runs down
While Newcastle were unwilling to match the lofty price tag set on Guehi over the summer, they may find it even more difficult to secure his signature next summer.
Liverpool have been linked, as well as Chelsea, who allowed Guehi to leave for Palace in 2021 for around £18m.
However, Football Insider claim Guehi has his eyes set on Champions League football, and will not be convinced on a move to Enzo Maresca's Chelsea should they miss out on the top four once again.
Chelsea finished sixth last season, qualifying them for the Conference League, despite spending over £1bn in the past two years in hopes of returning to Europe's top tier and challenging for league titles.
Defence was a particularly notable issue for the club last season, conceding 63 Premier League goals - more than double the amount let in by London rivals Arsenal.
The backline was one area where Chelsea spent very little over the recent summer transfer window though, only adding Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham.
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Can Marc Guehi make the step up to the Champions League?
Making the step up to major tournament international football in the summer suggests Guehi has what it takes to play at the highest level in the club game too.
Guehi now has 18 England caps, but he is yet to play European club football having spent the last three seasons at Crystal Palace, who have finished mid-table in each of those campaigns.
Helping the Three Lions reach the Euro 2024 final increased interest in Guehi and subsequently raised his price tag, with Palace unwilling to sell for anything less than their fixed valuation, especially after losing Joachim Andersen to Fulham.
Apart from a suspension for the quarter-final against Switzerland, Guehi played every minute on the way to the final in Berlin, and he also played the full 90 in England's 2-0 win over Ireland last week in the UEFA Nations League.
