Oliver Glasner has lifted the lid on a frantic Deadline Day at Crystal Palace, revealing that late attempts to sign a replacement for Marc Guéhi were knocked back despite the club tabling substantial offers.
The Eagles went into the final hours of the January window determined to strengthen at the back, but Glasner admitted their efforts were undermined by timing. With the clock ticking towards the 7pm cut off, selling clubs were unwilling to part with key defenders, no matter the size of the bids being offered.
Glasner details Palace’s late transfer scramble
Speaking to the Standard, the Palace boss explained that everyone at the club was pushing to deliver several deals right up to the final moments of the window.
“I’ve learned to accept situations,” Glasner said. “My wish, and the wish of everyone at the club, was that JP gets what he wanted and that we could bring in Jorgen, Dwight McNeil and a replacement for Marc Guéhi.
“That was what people were working on until the very end. The club tried everything and made big offers for a Guéhi replacement, but the answer was the same. Clubs simply did not want to sell on Deadline Day.
“Credit to the club for committing to a significant fee for Strand Larsen even though there was no incoming money for JP.
“With Dwight, we thought it was done. I planned for him in the next day’s training, but in the final minutes the terms changed again and the deal collapsed.”
Guéhi exit left Palace exposed
A major source of Glasner’s frustration has been the decision to allow Guéhi to leave midway through the season. The Palace captain completed a move to Manchester City for an initial fee of £20 million, a departure that stripped the defence of its leader at a crucial point in the campaign.
That blow came on top of the summer sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, leaving the squad stretched in key areas. Glasner had previously described the timing of Guéhi’s exit, just a day before a league fixture, as feeling like being left short-handed.
Palace explored options including Lyon defender Ruben Kluivert and Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, but neither deal could be concluded before the deadline. As a result, the Eagles face the rest of the season without a natural replacement for their former captain.
Glasner to depart Selhurst Park in the summer
The ongoing disagreements over recruitment and squad planning have now led to a clear parting of ways. Glasner has confirmed he will leave Palace at the end of the season in search of a fresh challenge once his contract expires.
His exit comes despite delivering a landmark FA Cup victory in 2025. However, the growing disconnect between the manager and the board over when to sell and when to strengthen has made his departure unavoidable.
Manchester United have been credited with an interest in Glasner, although the impressive early spell of Michael Carrick as caretaker could yet convince the Old Trafford hierarchy to keep faith with the former club icon.