Oliver Glasner drops major Marc Guehi transfer hint | OneFootball

Glasner insists Guehi remains central to Crystal Palace ambitions

Guehi’s future under the spotlight

Transfer windows often carry a sense of inevitability. For Crystal Palace, this summer’s narrative was built around Marc Guehi, a defender attracting admiring glances across the Premier League and beyond. Yet as the deadline approaches, manager Oliver Glasner has made it plain that the club cannot afford to lose its captain.

Guehi, now in the final year of his contract, had been tipped for a possible move. That speculation, however, has faded into silence. What remains is Glasner’s insistence that his side’s foundations cannot be dismantled at the eleventh hour.

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Glasner’s firm stance

The Austrian coach cut through any lingering doubt with his message.“From my side, he has to [still be a Crystal Palace player] because it’s not possible at the moment to find a Marc Guehi replacement who can play straight in the Premier League, being a starter, being consistent,” Glasner said.

His reasoning was pragmatic. The Eagles’ recent stability has been rooted in defence, and Guehi’s leadership at the back has been pivotal. “When we see our foundation of success in the last few months, it’s our defence… Marc is a crucial part,” Glasner explained.

Finding someone who can immediately step into those shoes, particularly with so little time left in the market, is — in Glasner’s words — “almost impossible.”

Commitment beyond speculation

What has perhaps impressed Glasner most is Guehi’s focus amid the noise. “He shows in every game that he’s focused. If Marc had said ‘I want to leave Crystal Palace’, it would already have happened weeks ago. Marc is fully committed to the team, he shows it every third day at the moment… it is my point of view that we need to keep Marc.”

It is a revealing stance. In modern football, where contracts rarely guarantee loyalty, Glasner is leaning not only on Guehi’s ability but also his mentality. For Crystal Palace, holding on to such a presence may prove more valuable than any late influx of funds.

Looking ahead

What unfolds over the season will depend on more than Guehi’s situation, but this particular battle feels decisive. By refusing to sanction a departure, Glasner is drawing a line — one that speaks to ambition rather than resignation. Palace have too often been viewed as sellers; this time, Glasner is making the case for building, not rebuilding.