Crystal Palace in Advanced Talks to Land “Dominant” Young Centre-Back as Guehi Exit Looms
Crystal Palace are now in active negotiations to sign one of Europe’s most promising young defenders, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the club is pushing ahead in the summer market.
Marc Guehi Edging Closer to Selhurst Park Exit
The urgency behind Palace’s move comes amid growing speculation surrounding the future of Marc Guehi, their highly-rated centre-back. The 24-year-old has seen his stock soar following his performances for England at Euro 2024, where he was a standout in Gareth Southgate’s defensive unit.
Liverpool are now believed to be serious contenders to land Guehi, viewing him as a natural replacement for Jarell Quansah, who is expected to seal a summer switch to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Previously, Guehi was a target for Newcastle United, but their interest cooled due to Palace’s steep valuation last year. With bigger clubs now circling again, his departure looks increasingly likely.
Ousmane Diomande Emerges as Ideal Successor
With the writing on the wall regarding Guehi’s potential exit, Palace are preparing a succession plan, and have entered talks with Sporting CP to secure the services of Ousmane Diomande. According to reports, negotiations are well underway, and manager Oliver Glasner has personally approved the move for the highly-rated Ivorian defender.
At just 21 years old, Diomande is already being tipped as one of the most dominant young centre-backs in European football. His physical presence, composure on the ball, and defensive reading of the game have seen him develop into a cornerstone for Sporting, where he’s already made over 100 senior appearances.
Diomande’s Impressive Stats Back the Hype
The numbers behind Diomande’s rise are eye-catching. Last season in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, he boasted an astonishing 93.6% passing accuracy, showcasing his ability to play out confidently from the back. Defensively, he was equally impressive, averaging 2.7 clearances and 2.5 aerial duels won per game, a testament to his dominance in both ground and aerial battles.
Journalist Kevin Fernandes has described the young defender as “dominant”, and it’s clear to see why Palace have identified him as a top priority should Guehi depart.
A Signing for the Present and the Future
Diomande wouldn’t just be a quick fix. Palace view him as a long-term investment who could slot into the first team immediately while continuing to develop under Glasner’s leadership. With his high ceiling and impressive maturity for his age, he could eventually become one of the club’s most valuable assets—both on the pitch and in future transfer windows.
If Palace were to sell Diomande a few years down the line, there’s every chance they could command a massive transfer fee, similar to the fees being quoted for Guehi now.
Palace’s Ambitious Summer Strategy Takes Shape
The move for Diomande is part of a broader, more ambitious summer strategy at Crystal Palace under Glasner. After a solid finish to the 2024/25 campaign, there’s clear intent to strengthen key areas of the squad with young, high-potential talent rather than just plug gaps with short-term solutions.
Should the Eagles seal the Diomande deal, it will be seen as a statement signing—one that signals the club’s readiness to compete at a higher level and plan for sustainable success, even if Guehi’s exit comes to pass.