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Marc Guiu Arrives in Germany as Suleman Sani Closes in on Al-Qadsiah Move
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- Marc Guiu Arrives in Germany as Suleman Sani Closes in on Al-Qadsiah Move
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)
Marc Guiu has arrived in Leipzig to complete his move from Chelsea , with RB Leipzig now finalising a deal that could become one of the more interesting pieces of their late-window squad reshuffle.
According to Sky Germany , the 20-year-old striker is in Germany for his medical and the final formalities before signing a contract until 2031. The transfer is understood to be worth around €17 million including realistic bonuses, with Chelsea also retaining a sell-on clause.
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Guiu's arrival is particularly interesting because it comes alongside a series of changes to Leipzig's attacking options rather than in isolation. The club brought Christopher Nkunku back from AC Milan earlier this week, and now Guiu is arriving just as Conrad Harder prepares to leave on loan for Strasbourg . Die Roten Bullen are effectively changing the composition of their forward line rather than simply adding another name to it.
Guiu's career makes the move something of a gamble, but also an understandable one.
He became one of Barcelona 's most talked-about young forwards when he scored seconds after making his senior debut against Athletic Club in 2023. Chelsea subsequently moved to sign him, but his time in England never developed into the breakthrough expected. Opportunities were limited in a crowded squad, and a loan spell at Sunderland did little to establish him as a regular first-team striker.
That is ultimately why Chelsea are willing to sell him now.
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For Leipzig , however, the fact that Guiu has not yet established himself at Chelsea does not necessarily make the transfer a negative. The club is buying into the player he could become rather than paying for the finished product.
His development will now take place in a very different environment. The German side have a track record of giving young players responsibility, and Guiu should have a clearer route to meaningful minutes in Germany than he found in London.
The move also raises an obvious question about Harder.
The Danish striker arrived with considerable expectations but struggled to make the expected impact last season, and Leipzig are now allowing him to leave on loan. Guiu's arrival gives the club another option at centre-forward while allowing Harder to play regularly elsewhere and attempt to rebuild his momentum.
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There could be another attacking departure, too.
According to Sky Sport information , Leipzig are negotiating with Al-Qadsiah over a permanent transfer for Suleman Sani. A package of around €8 million including bonuses is being discussed, although a final agreement has not yet been reached.
That would further explain the logic behind Guiu's arrival.
Leipzig are not simply accumulating young forwards. They are making decisions about which players remain part of Martín Demichelis ' project and which need either a different environment or a permanent exit.
The timing is striking. After a summer in which RBL had to replace major departures and carefully manage their spending, the club is now moving quickly in the final days of the window.
