The cheeky Tottenham and Crystal Palace transfer swap deal that could ignite the summer window
Tottenham Hotspur are set to be one of the most active Premier League clubs in the summer transfer market, with defensive reinforcements sitting high on their priority list. Following their return to the Champions League – a significant boost both financially and in terms of prestige – the club is keen to address the glaring issues that marred their domestic campaign. Chief among these is the need for a high-quality centre-back, and it’s no surprise that Spurs have quickly entered the race to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Guehi, a standout performer in both club and international football over the past year, has just one year remaining on his contract with Palace. Given the reluctance on both sides to pursue an extension, the 23-year-old is likely to be available for a price well below the £80 million record fee Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire. Although Maguire remains the world’s most expensive defender, both Guehi and Tottenham will hope for a more rewarding outcome if the former Chelsea academy product makes the move across London.
Palace, meanwhile, are bracing for a transfer window that could reshape the entire structure of their squad. While Guehi is attracting significant interest, he is far from the only Eagles player catching the attention of top clubs. Young midfielder Adam Wharton, the ever-creative Eberechi Eze, and in-form striker Jean-Philippe Mateta are also on the radar of European heavyweights. Manager Oliver Glasner must not only prepare his side for a potential European campaign, following their FA Cup triumph, but also navigate what could be a summer of heavy turnover.
As for Tottenham, their qualification for next season’s Champions League has softened the blow of what was statistically one of their poorest league campaigns since they were relegated in 1977. Defensive vulnerabilities plagued their season, with only West Ham matching their total of 61 goals conceded among teams that managed to avoid relegation. For context, that’s eight more than Burnley conceded when they dropped down to the Championship in 2022.
Addressing this leaky defense is non-negotiable for manager Ange Postecoglou. One possible solution could involve a swap deal with Crystal Palace, sending Richarlison the other way in exchange for Guehi. The Brazilian forward, signed from Everton in 2022 for £50 million, has struggled to meet expectations in North London. If Tottenham could recoup most of that fee — even if it means adding a bit of cash to sweeten the deal — the move would represent a pragmatic solution for both clubs.
Guehi’s profile fits Tottenham’s needs almost perfectly. He’s composed in possession, strong in one-on-one situations, and mobile enough to complement the pacey Micky van de Ven at the heart of the Spurs backline. His ability to play out from the back would also bolster Postecoglou’s tactical vision, which is heavily reliant on building attacks from deep. Despite some concerns about his aerial ability — he ranks in the lower quartile of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won — Tottenham’s set-piece defending has improved considerably under their Australian boss, mitigating that weakness.
Importantly, Guehi has already shown he can thrive under the intense spotlight of top-tier football. Prior to Euro 2024, he had earned only eight England caps, all in non-competitive matches. Yet when Maguire was ruled out of the tournament, Gareth Southgate entrusted Guehi with a starting role alongside John Stones. The Palace man seized the opportunity, forming a rock-solid partnership that was instrumental in England’s run to the final.
Back at Selhurst Park, the spotlight has also fallen on Lyon’s Rayan Cherki. The French winger is being eyed by several Premier League clubs, including Palace, amid reports of a €22.5 million (£19m) buyout clause as part of Lyon’s ongoing fire sale. However, the competition for his signature is intense, with Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham all believed to be circling. Palace would need to act quickly and decisively if they hope to secure the young talent.
That urgency is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding several key players. Glasner may find himself needing to replace stars like Wharton, Eze, and Mateta before the window closes, creating unforeseen gaps in his squad. This makes signing an established Premier League attacker all the more appealing — and in Richarlison, Palace could have an ideal candidate.
Though his time at Tottenham has been underwhelming, Richarlison remains a proven Premier League talent with a solid track record at both club and international level. His time at Everton was marked by passionate performances and consistent goal contributions — 68 in 152 games — while he also thrived at Fluminense in Brazil. However, since joining Spurs, his productivity has dipped, with his goal involvement falling to around one in three games.
It’s possible that Richarlison simply functions better as the focal point of a team, rather than as a supporting figure among superstars. At Everton and Fluminense, he was the heartbeat of the attack. In contrast, his defined and limited role at Tottenham may have stifled his creativity and spontaneity. At a club like Palace — with a more communal spirit and fervent fanbase — he might rediscover the fire that made him such a prized asset in the first place.
His versatility is another asset. Richarlison can play across the front three, offering Glasner valuable tactical flexibility regardless of how the rest of his squad shapes up. While his motivation for joining Spurs was to compete in the Champions League, a return to form — even in the Europa League — might be more valuable at this stage of his career. If a move to Palace can offer him a starring role and regular minutes, it may well be the perfect scenario for all parties involved.
Ultimately, a swap deal involving Marc Guehi and Richarlison could solve problems for both clubs. Tottenham would shore up a porous defense with a rising England international, while Palace would gain an experienced, multi-faceted forward eager to reestablish himself. With both teams facing pivotal summers, such a deal could be the first domino to fall in a transformative transfer window.