Crystal Palace is confronted with a difficult situation about Captain Marc Guehi, who continues to play for the club during the negotiations to join Liverpool in the summer transfer window
Liverpool was told that they could not sign Marc Guehi the following week after Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner set his foot over the frustrating situation.
On Thursday evening, Palace played the first stage of their conference competition against Fredrikstad without Ebereechi Eze, who leaves to become a member of Arsenal. Palace beat the Norwegian side 1-0 with Guehi that captain, but the late withdrawal of Eze – who leaves for Arsenal in a relocation of £ 67.5 million in the coming days – caused a distraction.
Guehi has played both Palace games this season, but continues to talk about a move to Liverpool in the summer transfer window, which will close on 1 September. He started the last year of his contract with Palace, who are under pressure to sell now or to lose him for nothing next summer.
It is a frustrating situation for Glasner, who openly expressed his dismay about his team, after he could have mentioned only nine of the 12 allowed replacements on Thursday. “We must, especially for the second stage,,” Glasner told Channel 5 when he was asked if Palace would hold Guehi. “No injured player will come back and we can't register anyone, so we have to keep him.
“We already have Chris Richards and Ty Mitchell resting those small problems. There is no other choice than to keep Marc for these games. He knows, everyone knows. If we want to compete in all these competitions, we need players, that is quite clear.”
Palace Travel to Norway for the second stage of the play-off on Thursday 28 August, which would then leave a three-day window for Guehi and then become a member of Liverpool. Having negotiations standing still, where Palace demands £ 45 million for their captain, while Liverpool does not exceed £ 35 million.
“As Marc [Guehi] Browse Maybe I will try my boots because I was a center back. We have to act. It is the future of Crystal Palace and we have to add figures, “Glasner added.
“We are very late, very late to find replacements. I think we can behave much better than we do. It is not the best way to start the season. I think we are under the edge.”
While Glasner clearly wants to retain his middle behind, Palace chairman Steve Parish has a more realistic approach. He said: “If Marc wants to sign a new contract, he can stay! It is a difficult situation. Everyone has to sell players to meet the rules. That is a situation that we have to look at for the next 11 days.”
With Eze not present in Selhurst Park, the attention was paid to Guehi, who had followed a cameraman over the field while he applauded the fans after the full -time whistle. “There are other players you know,” he said with a smile, pointing over his shoulder.
Parish has negotiated the exit from Eze to Arsenal and said: “It is what it is, we have to pass by. He has been fantastic for the club, we all love him what he has done, what he has achieved and we are happy that he can go and reach the other ambitions he has.
“The king is dead, the king for a long time, we have to pass by. We have to find other players to bring in who can support the rest of the team and Oliver.
“We will bring in players, it's all about finding the right one. It is difficult to replace such players. We are probably a bit thin. We will try to use the money and make ourselves, perhaps not so well, but wider with a stronger basis and with a few options.”