Speculation is building that Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi will move back to Chelsea – and Trevoh Chalobah could play a crucial role in the move.
The Blues’ early-season form has taken a hit of late, with the club failing to secure a win in their last four Premier League matches. This slump is partly due to the absence of defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, who are sidelined for extended periods.
As a result, Chelsea have shifted their focus to the January transfer market, and former academy star Guehi is understood to be near the top of their list. And football.london has reported that if talks do get rolling, Palace loanee Chalobah could be used as leverage.
Guehi’s performances at Selhurst Park have been highly impressive, earning him recognition on the international stage for England and the captaincy in south London. Valued at a whopping £70million, the Daily Mail reported Chelsea’s plans for a potential Guehi move have accelerated this month following long-term injuries to their French defensive duo.
Chalobah was one of several Blues players sent out on loan by Maresca after a wave of new talent arrived last summer. However, he has perhaps performed even better than many expected during his temporary stint under Oliver Glasner.
He has formed a formidable partnership alongside the likes of Guehi and Maxence Lacroix, scoring three times in the process. That includes a goal against Palace’s bitter nemeses, Brighton, and consistently delivering solid defensive performances.
Chelsea moving for former starlet Guehi could mean leveraging current talent like Chalobah to ease the financial outlay. Guehi’s sentiments from his 2022 farewell might hint at a Blues reunion being on the cards given he clearly holds some affection for the club.
Reflecting on his Stamford Bridge exit, he told Sky Sports at the time: “It hurt a lot just because I was there for such a long time. It’s such a different feeling leaving there and not going back to where you’ve been for so long.
“But in order to grow, sometimes you have to take the hard choice and take the hard path sometimes. I felt I just wanted to carry on my development. I felt like Crystal Palace was the best place for me to go and do that.”
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