Tottenham Hotspur have long admired Marc Guehi, but as the summer window approaches, there is a growing realisation within the club that signing the Crystal Palace defender may not be as straightforward as they had hoped.
The Lilywhites have been linked with several Crystal Palace players ahead of the summer transfer window, with the club keen to strengthen their squad under Ange Postecoglou.
Recently, reports have suggested that Spurs have emerged as frontrunners in the race to sign Eberechi Eze, a player they have long admired. However, their interest in Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has been ongoing for some time.
Back in January, Tottenham made a late bid for the England international, only for it to be swiftly rejected. Now, as the summer window approaches, Spurs’ stance on Guehi appears to be shifting.
Tottenham’s growing doubts over Marc Guehi pursuit
Fresh reports from GiveMeSport have now revealed that Tottenham are not overly confident about their chances of landing Guehi this summer.
While there is still an interest in the centre-back, there is a growing acceptance within the club that securing his signature may prove difficult.
According to the publication, Spurs acknowledge internally that a deal for Guehi is far from straightforward, with the player showing little enthusiasm for a move in January.
That reluctance has cast further doubt on whether he would be willing to make the switch this time around.
The report also states that Chelsea are still interested in their former academy graduate, and a move there could be more appealing to Guehi.
Of course, with competition from Stamford Bridge and Palace’s firm stance, Spurs may have to reassess their options in central defence.
Spurs must explore alternatives in defence this summer
There is no doubt that Tottenham need defensive reinforcements ahead of next season. This campaign has exposed just how vulnerable they are at the back, with injuries to key centre-backs leaving Postecoglou’s side stretched in critical moments.
Even now, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven remain sidelined after sustaining injuries in December. While van de Ven made a brief return in January and Romero has resumed Tottenham training, neither has played regularly since the turn of the year.
If Guehi is not fully convinced by a move to north London, Tottenham would be wise to look elsewhere rather than risk being used as leverage in negotiations.
The club has already shown with the pursuit of Kevin Danso that quality alternatives exist for a more reasonable price. Identifying the right option will be crucial as Spurs look to build a squad capable of sustaining a top-four challenge next season.