Oliver Glasner will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season in search of ‘new challenge’, Marc Guehi’s Manchester City move in ‘final stages’

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, the Austrian revealed that he told chairman Steve Parish that he is leaving because he wants a “new challenge”.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Glasner also confirmed that the club are in the closing stages of agreeing a deal to sell captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, with the defender, set to miss the trip to Sunderland, having now almost certainly played his final match for the club.

“A decision has already been taken, months ago. I had a meeting with Steve (Parish) in October, during the international break.

“We had a very long talk, and I told him I will not sign a new contract. We agreed at the time that it was best to keep it between us. It’s the best that we could do, and keep it confidential for three months.

“But now it’s important to have clarity, and we had a very busy schedule, so that’s why we didn’t want to talk about it. Steve and I want the best for Crystal Palace. Steve and I have no egos. We think now is important that we have clarity as it is what the players, staff members and every fan deserve.

The news comes on the same day that Palace reached an agreement to sell Marc Guehi to Manchester City.

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“I told Steve (Parish) I’m just looking for a new challenge. I told him in October that it’s nothing to do with the transfer window. I hate it if something is written or said that is not true, and it was very tough for me not to respond. We have a great relationship, and we’re always talking about what is best for Crystal Palace.

“I haven’t spoken to any other club, I told the players that and promised them today I will give my best to give the best season in Crystal Palace history, the best points tally in history.

“We are now four points better off than we were at this stage of the season, and we will do everything to bring another trophy back to Selhurst Park.

“We had the Conference League draw today, we will play Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia in the play-off draw, and I had a look at the draw bracket, it’ll be quite interesting who we could play in our section. Strasbourg, AZ Alkmaar, Rayo Vallecano, and Fiorentina are all on our side of the draw, and together it is possible.

“I will do everything to help bring a trophy back to Selhurst Park.”

Marc Guehi to Man City deal ‘in final stages’

The news comes on the same day that Palace reached an agreement to sell Guehi to City, with Glanser confirming the development in the transfer saga before turning the focus onto his own future.

At the start of the press conference, Glasner said on Guehi’s move to the Etihad Stadium: “My latest understanding is that deal with Marc is in the final stages. I can’t confirm it as the deal is not yet done, but it’s in the last stages and the result is that Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us.”

‘He is a dream’ – Hargreaves says Guehi has ability to play for Madrid

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“I mentioned it a few weeks ago when I was pretty clear that he’s a big player. Every player, depending on his contract situation, there is a price, and when a club says they want to do it and when the player also says he wants to move on, a deal will happen and (it) looks like this will happen now.

“Everybody wanted Marc to stay forever as Crystal Palace captain, and playing here, but the reality is different. I’ve spoken to him, and it stays between us, but Marc has shown his commitment, and throughout the season so far.

“I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He’s still at the beginning, and I think he will have a great future as he is a fantastic player and a fantastic guy.

“I think it’s a problem for every club if you lose a player for free, but that’s the situation. The clubs on the other end are playing high signing-on fee for free players. I think every club has signed a free player, so this is just the football business that we’re in. If you can’t find a new deal, then these things happen. Every team wants to avoid this.

“We have to find a replacement – let’s see. For all of us, it was surprising. I told the players, and they were a little bit surprised. But we sold Michael Olise (at the start of the 2024/25 season), and it was the best season in Crystal Palace’s history.

“We lost Eberechi Eze, and now we’re four points better off than we were last year with him. So, we have always coped with the situation, and it’s up to us to show we can cope with this situation again.

“We will get somebody here, but everyone here has our trust that they can win us games. We never like to lose our captain, but the mood at our training ground was absolutely OK.”