Marc Guehi: Crystal Palace captain tells club he won’t sign new contract and will leave next year, says Oliver Glasner | Football news
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has informed the club that he does not wish to sign a new contract and will leave the club next year, head coach Oliver Glasner has revealed.
The England international’s current contract with Palace expires on June 30, when he can leave the Eagles on a free transfer.
Guehi is also able to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club when the January transfer window opens on New Year’s Day 2026.
“I think Marc has already told us he won’t sign a new contract, so he’ll leave next year,” Glasner said Friday.
“The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, “No, I want to do something different.” And that’s normal.
“And for us, it’s how do we deal with this situation? [What] is this the best way to achieve this next step? And it all depends on how we talk together. »
Earlier this year, Guehi was set to join Liverpool on deadline day in a £35m deal. Palace chairman Steve Parish made the decision to end the deal at 4pm – three hours before the deadline – because Palace could not sign a replacement.
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Charlie Austin believes Liverpool must prioritize signing Guehi in January as they only have one world-class centre-back in Virgil van Dijk.
A new approach by Liverpool to sign Guehi in January cannot be ruled out, with Reds defender Giovanni Leoni set to miss the rest of the season with a long-term knee injury.
However, Palace did not allow Guehi to leave on the cheap during the winter window. And there is also interest across Europe in what is expected to be one of the highest-profile free agents entering the market.
Who will Guehi join this summer?
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Could Crystal Palace try to cash in on Guehi in January as several top European clubs monitor the defender
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol:
Guehi has a big decision to make when he leaves Crystal Palace. Almost all the big clubs in Europe want to recruit him next summer.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City And Liverpool are just some of the clubs that want it.
Guehi is totally committed to playing for Palace but when the time comes to leave, he would like to play at the highest level possible, including in the Champions League. He is not someone who is motivated by money.
Real Madrid are expected to sign a central defender next summer. But one of their targets, William Saliba, has signed a new contract with Arsenal.
This means Madrid will focus their efforts on signing Ibrahima Konate or Guehi from Liverpool next summer. Both players could then be at the end of their contract.
Real recently signed Kylian Mbappe, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rudiger as free agents in recent windows.
If I had to bet on it, I’d say he’ll end up playing next summer at Real Madrid or Barcelona.
These clubs now have an advantage because they can sign a pre-contract agreement with him in January, something Premier League clubs obviously cannot do.
Premier League clubs could make a big offer for him at Crystal Palace in January. But how big would it be given he becomes a free agent this summer?
Speaking to some people from other Premier League clubs, they told me that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all interested in signing him, and they will definitely have the advantage.
What about Glasner’s future?
Guehi is not the only major Palace figure out of contract next summer, with Palace head coach Glasner also in the final year of his contract.
It is understood Palace have accelerated talks with their FA Cup and Community Shield-winning manager over a contract extension and the Austrian admitted he had spoken regularly with Palace chairman Steve Parish last week.
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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says he is in constant dialogue with chairman Steve Parish as speculation continues to grow over his long-term future at the club.
“I met Steve when I returned from my time on international duty at home, big tasks at home!
“I came back Sunday, I met Steve Sunday afternoon at the NFL game and we talked. I met him Tuesday for dinner, we talked. I met him Wednesday at the House of Commons and we talked. And he’s here. [on Friday] and we talked.
“We talk almost every day and it’s not that I need conditions or want anything. Crystal Palace want to succeed, so Crystal Palace want to continue on this path.
“When you see [the league form] it was always between the 10th, the 11th and the 14th and the 15th. In recent years, it’s more – let’s say – [between] the 10th and the 12th. And Crystal Palace doesn’t want to say: ‘Okay, everything will be fine when we go back to the 14th or the 15th.’ This is now what we always discuss: how we think we have the best chance of continuing on this path.
“And Oliver Glasner doesn’t have the final solution. And Steve Parish doesn’t have it. Working together and having a relationship together only makes sense if you have the same goals, if you have the same vision. Otherwise, you can’t be successful. Anywhere, in any company, if two leaders have different visions, then you separate and you can’t achieve your goal.
“And that’s what we’re talking about. If we can find the same path, the same goal for Crystal Palace – not for Oliver Glasner – then we will end the negotiations. And if we don’t find it, we will also end the negotiations.
