Declan Rice has told Arsenal why they should snap up Marc Guehi before Liverpool and Man City

Arsenal are reportedly in the running to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in the January transfer window and Declan Rice has already given Mikel Arteta a big hint as to his suitability for the Gunners

Marc Guehi is out of contract in the summer and is reportedly being eyed by Arsenal

Arsenal are said to be among a host of clubs vying for the signature of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. And Declan Rice has already hinted at one reason why he’d be a good fit for the Gunners.

England defender Guehi was on the brink of a move to Liverpool last summer before the deal fell through, leaving his future up in the air. The 25-year-old’s contract is set to expire in 2026 and Palace boss Oliver Glasner has conceded that he could depart Selhurst Park this month if a suitable offer comes in.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all reportedly keeping a close eye on Guehi. However, current league leaders Arsenal, who extended their lead at the top after a goalless draw with Liverpool on Thursday, have also reportedly thrown their hat into the ring. And Gunners ace Rice has already revealed a characteristic of Guehi’s that would surely pique Arteta’s interest.

In 2023, Rice was asked to describe each of his England team-mates with a single word for their social media channels, and his response when Guehi’s name came up was quite revealing.

Before Guehi, Rice was asked about Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, whom he described as “intelligent.” But when it came to Guehi, Rice said: “To be fair, I didn’t know he was coming. Intelligent.”

READ MORE: Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa’s next Premier League fixtures after title race twistREAD MORE: Man City get six-figure request from club who has ‘written to’ Pep Guardiola’s team

Rice’s commendation suggests that not only is Guehi a clever player, but he would have ordinarily been considered the most intelligent member of the squad over Dunk. This is a trait that Arteta values highly.

Can Arsenal challenge for the title? Get your latest Gunners news plus selected offers and competitions

Discussing former midfielder Jorginho back in 2023, Arteta was quick to praise the Italian’s footballing intelligence. The Spaniard remarked: “The detail he can go into, to understand what is happening, not individually, but what’s actually happening in life, in the game, is really impressive.

Rice described Guehi as

“You use him because he is always there, when he’s on the bench, like another coach. Every time I look behind, he’s there – it’s great that he is living the game.”

Moreover, when quizzed in 2024 about how Rice, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino would combine in midfield, Arteta highlighted intelligence as a key quality.

He stated: “There’ve been a lot of new units recently… and I think they can play well together. Three very intelligent football brains. They like to play for others. You have players who can hold the ball in tight spaces and can play for others. Martin is exceptional in his timing and high press.”

Arteta clearly prizes a smart footballer, and according to one of his star players, Guehi fits that description perfectly. Reports suggest a £40million bid could tempt Palace to part with him come January.

However, the Gunners may face stiff competition from title challengers City in pursuit of his signature, with Palace boss Glasner making it abundantly clear that should a substantial offer arrive, Guehi would be free to depart if he so desires.

“I’m not naive,” said Glasner. “If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen. There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen – as long as Marc says ‘I want to leave’, because the final decision is always with the player.”