Why Man City have signed £20m Marc Guehi - Pep Guardiola factor, transfer coup, player ambition

Manchester City are set to confirm the £20million signing of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the coming days

Manchester City are convinced Marc Guehi represents one of the best value deals in recent history. City will pay an initial £20m for the England and Crystal Palace defender, rising to £30m depending on appearances and certain successes.

There is also a percentage sell-on clause inserted in the deal, while City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has agreed to double Guehi's wages to £200,000-a-week. But given some of the previous spending City have indulged in, combined with the fact Guehi is 25 and not even approaching his peak yet, senior club figures are thrilled with getting such a signing over the line.

As reported here last week, City have stolen a march on Liverpool, not to mention some of Europe's biggest clubs, to land the centre back. It's understood Palace's decision to sell Guehi before he became a free agent in June, was the catalyst for Oliver Glasner deciding to leave the club at the end of this season.

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But this won't concern City. Pep Guardiola approached Al-Mubarak earlier this month asking the club to explore the chances of getting Guehi, when he realised injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias would knock a huge hole in his defensive options.

With Arsenal continuing to lead the title race, Guardiola knew he had to do something fast. Talks between the two clubs accelerated earlier this week. But Guardiola has admired Guehi from afar for a couple of seasons. He likes Guehi's calmness in possession, ability to bring the ball out of defence and his dedication to being the best footballer he can be.

The Spaniard also identified Guehi as the long-term replacement for John Stones. Guehi had his pick of around six clubs, including Bayern Munich and Inter Milan but once Guardiola's interest became known to him, his mind was made up.

Few players would reject the chance to work for one of the greatest managers of all time - and Guehi is no different. There is the added incentive of challenging for the biggest trophies in club football and regular Champions League competition. But Guehi has told people close to him that he expects Guardiola to take his game to a whole new level.

Guehi's arrival at the Etihad will spell bad news for Stones. He is out of contract at the end of this season, and was hoping to sign an extension with Guardiola's men. But no agreement has been reached, with Guardiola having reservations about the centre back's fitness problems.

Stones, who will be 32 in May, has been restricted to just seven league appearances this season due to injuries. And he knows he will fall down the pecking order once City secure the services of England team-mate Guehi.