Crystal Palace may be on the brink of a genuine crisis, with two of the club’s most influential figures both seemingly destined to depart during a pivotal period.
Despite being heavily linked with Liverpool last summer, it is now Manchester City who appear to have won the race for Palace captain Marc Guéhi.
Reports, confirmed by manager Oliver Glasner, suggest City have reached both a club-to-club agreement and personal terms with the England international
Compounding matters further, Glasner himself has publicly indicated that he does not intend to renew his contract beyond this summer.
Here, Transfer News Blitz’s Joe Matthews breaks down a potentially seismic moment for the South London club.
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OUT OF THE BLUE
As the summer transfer window drew to a close, Marc Guéhi looked all but destined for Liverpool. Fresh from their triumphant 2024/25 Premier League campaign, the Reds were eager to reinforce their defence with the Palace skipper.
However, Oliver Glasner stood firm. The Palace boss made it clear that selling Guéhi would prompt his immediate resignation – a stance that ultimately derailed the move on deadline day.
Despite reports that personal terms had already been agreed, the deal collapsed, and the 25-year-old remained in London.
Fast forward to January, and Liverpool’s need for centre-back reinforcements remains evident.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté have struggled to rediscover their title-winning form, while highly rated youngster Giovanni Leoni has been sidelined with a devastating ACL injury.
Yet, somewhat unexpectedly, Anfield has been unusually quiet this winter. Few concrete links have emerged, and Liverpool’s interest in Guéhi appears to have cooled.
Then came the bombshell. Fabrizio Romano delivered his trademark “Here We Go,” confirming Marc Guéhi’s imminent move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City – for a reported fee of just £20 million. For a defender of Guéhi’s calibre, it represents extraordinary value.
POTENTIAL CRISIS
Guéhi’s impending departure is only half the story. Palace are also bracing themselves for life after Oliver Glasner, who has confirmed his intention not to extend his contract beyond the end of the season.
Since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt in February 2024, Glasner has transformed Crystal Palace.
He revitalised a side that had grown accustomed to mid-table obscurity, unlocking the full potential of talents such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Austrian tactician guided the Eagles to a historic FA Cup and Community Shield double last season and oversaw one of the longest winning streaks in European football during 2025 – an era that firmly redefined the club’s ambitions.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester United are long-standing admirers. With Ruben Amorim set to depart Old Trafford, Glasner has reportedly emerged as a leading candidate to take over this summer.
Should Crystal Palace enter the 2026/27 campaign without the manager who delivered their greatest modern successes – and without their captain and defensive linchpin – the club risks undoing the remarkable progress made over the past two years.
For Palace supporters, the coming months may prove decisive in determining whether this era becomes a foundation for sustained success – or a fleeting golden chapter.
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