Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Marc Guehi will leave the club after rejecting a new contract, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding the England defender’s future. Guehi, who came close to joining Liverpool on deadline day, is now set to depart either in January or as a free agent next summer.

The 25-year-old was given permission to complete a medical with Liverpool on September 1, but the transfer collapsed when Palace failed to secure a replacement. Brighton’s Igor Julio, who was lined up to fill the void, opted to join West Ham United on loan instead, forcing Palace to pull the plug on the deal.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Glasner admitted Guehi’s decision to move on has already been made.

“Marc has told us he will not sign a new contract, so he will leave next year,” said the Austrian coach.
“The club wanted him to stay — they offered him a new deal — but he said he wants to try something different, and that’s normal in football. Now it’s about how we handle the situation together and what the best next step is for everyone.”

Liverpool remain interested in the former Chelsea academy graduate but had indicated after the summer window that they would wait until next season to revisit the move. That stance could change, however, following the long-term injury to young defender Giovanni Leoni.

From January 1, Guehi will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs abroad. Alongside Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the centre-back, whose calm composure and leadership have made him one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defenders.

Palace chairman Steve Parish recently explained the reasoning behind keeping Guehi past the deadline, insisting the club’s historic European campaign played a major role in the decision.

“It wasn’t an easy call,” Parish told talkSPORT. “We weighed everything up and decided we’d have a stronger season with Marc here. It’s our first time in the Conference League — a special moment for the club — and keeping one of our best players felt like the right decision. If we were mid-table without Europe, maybe it would’ve been different, but these are unique circumstances.”

Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to explore defensive reinforcements, with Borussia Dortmund star Nico Schlotterbeck among the names linked ahead of their Premier League showdown against Manchester United on Sunday.