Guéhi’s Cancelled Liverpool Move Puts Heat On Palace To Keep Glasner Happy | Ed Aarons

“Marc and me, we person nan aforesaid fate,” Oliver Glasner said pinch a smile. It was nan eve of Crystal Palace’s gathering pinch Liverpool successful nan Community Shield and – not for nan past clip complete nan adjacent fewer weeks – nan unavoidable mobility of his captain’s early had conscionable been broached.

Marc Guéhi had entered nan last twelvemonth of his statement astatine Palace and everyone knew a swift solution was needed. “Of course, everybody wants Marc to motion a caller contract,” said Glasner, who had surgery disconnected negotiations astir extending his ain woody aft starring Palace to their first awesome trophy by winning nan FA Cup a fewer weeks earlier. “It will beryllium his decision. We ne'er cognize what will hap successful this sometimes crazy transportation market.”

Yet nary 1 could person imagined rather really dramatically things would move out. Having said aft Palace defeated Arne Slot’s side connected penalties astatine Wembley that “for players of that calibre to time off connected a free, it’s a problem for america unfortunately”, a precocious U-turn connected Guéhi’s early by nan club’s chairman, Steve Parish, moreover managed to return nan spotlight distant from nan conclusion to Alexander Isak’s drawn-out move to Anfield for a British grounds interest connected deadline day.

It was a stunning triumph for Glasner, who consistently made nary concealed of his guidance to Guéhi being sold truthful precocious successful nan model without an capable replacement being secured. After beating Aston Villa 3-0 connected Sunday evening successful different awesome capacity that established a nine grounds of 14 matches unbeaten successful each competitions arsenic a top-flight club, nan Austrian doubled down connected his stance that Palace had not fulfilled a committedness they made to him successful March during a gathering astir recruitment plans this summer.

But nan astonishment departure of nan sporting head Dougie Freedman to Saudi Arabia a fewer days aft that gathering – coupled pinch nan uncertainty complete which European title Palace would beryllium successful aft defeating Manchester City successful nan FA Cup last – threw nan club’s transportation plans into turmoil.

Liverpool had indicated each summertime that they were consenting to salary nary much than £35m for Guéhi contempt Palace turning down a £70m connection from Tottenham for nan England world successful January, pinch nan 25-year-old having made it clear he wanted to subordinate nan Premier League champions and would not motion a caller contract. Given that Chelsea were owed a 20% sell-on clause aft trading him successful 2021 for astir £18m, Parish wanted astatine slightest £40m and had lined up Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande arsenic Guéhi’s replacement.

An wounded to nan Ivory Coast defender led to a frantic hunt for different options that is understood to person ended successful nonaccomplishment minutes earlier nan deadline. Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, Lloyd Kelly of Juventus, Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic and Mohammed Salisu of Monaco were conscionable a fewer of nan defenders targeted, though Palace were capable to bring successful nan promising teen Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse for £21m. Glasner is said to complaint nan France Under‑20 world arsenic a immense imaginable for nan early but, understandably fixed that he has played only 14 Ligue 1 games, he did not spot him arsenic a subordinate who could measurement into Guéhi’s boots immediately.

Oliver Glasner (left) consistently made nary concealed of his guidance to Marc Guéhi being sold truthful precocious successful nan transportation window. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Parish is believed to person been undecided arsenic precocious arsenic 2pm connected deadline time whether to judge Liverpool’s connection earlier yet relenting. Glasner was informed of nan news and erstwhile again made it clear that he was highly unhappy, pinch nan 51-year-old, who was ne'er acrophobic to speak retired astir squad finance during spells successful complaint of Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, moreover threatening to discontinue earlier Parish changed his mind.

Meanwhile, Guéhi had already completed nan first portion of his aesculapian successful London and was shocked to beryllium told that Palace had pulled nan plug connected his move. Unlike Isak, he has continued to play passim each nan speculation and is understood to person been near hugely disappointed. There is nary mobility that he remains committed to Palace, however, moreover if Liverpool are apt to return successful January erstwhile he will besides beryllium capable to motion a pre-contract statement for an overseas club. Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus are believed to person expressed an interest.

For Parish, who has been heavy criticised by immoderate Palace fans for what Glasner called a “passive” attack successful nan transportation window, Guéhi remaining successful situ has resolved 1 headache but created respective others. Work was meant to statesman this summertime connected building a caller main guidelines astatine Selhurst Park that immoderate sources now expect will costs £250m. But pinch nan attraction having been elsewhere – European battles and transportation sagas – location is simply a consequence of further delays connected that project, contempt readying support having been granted successful 2018.

The club-record waste of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for a interest that could beryllium worthy up to £67.5m meant Palace made a profit of £16m successful this model having brought successful 5 caller players, albeit pinch £17m owed to Getafe arsenic portion of nan woody to make Christantus Uche’s move imperishable adjacent year. Given that, losing retired connected £35m for Guéhi whitethorn not beryllium specified a financial disaster, particularly if nan nine tin recoup immoderate money by trading him to Liverpool successful January having had much clip to find a suitable replacement.

But it is nan early of Glasner that will beryllium of astir interest to Palace’s board. There was nary motion of immoderate other finance from nan caller biggest shareholder, Woody Johnson, nan American billionaire who owns nan New York Jets, successful nan transportation model arsenic they grounded to seduce Club Brugge to portion pinch Glasner’s apical attacking target, Christos Tzolis. Unless that changes successful January, keeping their hugely eager head beyond this play will beryllium possibly nan biggest situation Parish has faced since rescuing nan nine from management successful 2010.