Sophia
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered a defiant three-word response regarding the future of star defender Marc Guéhi, amidst fervent transfer speculation linking him with Liverpool. When pressed on whether Guéhi would remain an Eagle beyond the summer transfer window, Glasner’s answer was unequivocal: “He has to.”
Contract Conundrum and Liverpool’s Pursuit
Liverpool have been consistently linked with a move for the highly-rated centre-back, whose contract with Palace is set to expire next summer. Palace chairman Steve Parish had previously acknowledged that the club would be compelled to sell Guéhi if he declined a contract extension. With no extension talks seemingly advancing, a deal in the region of £35-45 million ($47.2-60.7 million) for the England international was widely anticipated to be wrapped up imminently by the Merseyside club.
Glasner’s Firm Stance on Replacements
However, Glasner appears to have other plans. Having already seen creative linchpin Eberechi Eze depart for Arsenal, the Austrian coach is resolute in his determination to prevent another key player from leaving with precious little time left in the transfer window to secure a suitable replacement.
“It is not possible to find a Marc Guéhi replacement who can play straight in the Premier League,” Glasner stated emphatically at his Friday press conference, highlighting the immense challenge of filling the void left by a player of Guéhi’s calibre.
Palace’s New Acquisition: Jaydee Canvot
Intriguingly, on the same day as Glasner’s strong declaration, reports emerged via Fabrizio Romano that Palace had reportedly agreed a deal with Toulouse to sign 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot. While Canvot is undoubtedly an intriguing prospect for the future, having made just 22 senior appearances in an embryonic career spanning only 11 months, he is not a natural, immediate replacement for Guéhi, who serves as Palace’s on-pitch leader and a consistent England international.
Guéhi’s Professionalism Shines Amidst Scrutiny
In stark contrast to some other high-profile Premier League players who have reportedly “downed tools” to force a transfer, Guéhi has not only continued to play but has excelled under the intense spotlight of transfer speculation. The 25-year-old proudly led the Eagles out as captain in Norway on Thursday night, guiding Palace to a crucial 0-0 draw against Fredrikstad. This result secured their spot in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, where they now await challenging encounters against AZ, Dynamo Kyiv, Strasbourg, KuPS, AEK Larnaca, and Shelbourne.
Ahead of the vital European qualifier, Glasner had expressed his confidence in Guéhi, stating: “I’m speaking to Marc almost every day and it was clear he would play this game in Norway and then let’s see what will come. But I know that I can rely on Marc and count on him.”
If the Austrian coach has his way, he will indeed be able to rely upon Guéhi for the entirety of the upcoming season, a testament to the defender’s importance to the Crystal Palace squad and Glasner’s vision for the club.
