On January 10th, The Athletic revealed the remarkable news that Chelsea's pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Gueye may enter a white-hot stage. Despite the Crystal Palace management's reservations about the core player's departure, they may reassess their stance once someone is willing to bid around £40 million.
Chelsea's move is partly thanks to the second transfer split clause stipulated in Gueye's old contract with Crystal Palace. This clever design is expected to drastically cut Chelsea's actual cost of signing Gueye, thus making the deal more cost-effective.
It is reported that Chelsea's pursuit of Gueye could be even firmer if Crystal Palace agree to accept another Chelsea player, Chalobah. However, Chalobah's exorbitant salary demands have become a huge obstacle between the two sides. His income far exceeds that of Gueye and most of Crystal Palace's first-team players, which undoubtedly adds variables to the transfer negotiations.
Gueye has dominated the left center back role at club level, but has shown strength as a right center back with the national team with eye-catching performances. This versatility allows him to complement Chelsea's rising star, Colville, and provide the team with more defensive options. The Chelsea hierarchy is confident that the addition of Gueye will significantly enhance the team's overall defensive capabilities.
