Crystal Palace may still decide to part ways with Marc Guehi in January, even though Oliver Glasner is keen to keep hold of his captain, Football Insider reports.
The England centre-back continues to be heavily linked with a move away from Selhurst Park as uncertainty surrounds his contract. Guehi is due to be out of contract next year and has informed the club he will not be extending his stay in south London.
Glasner would prefer to retain Guehi until the end of the season, despite the risk of losing him on a free next summer. However, Palace’s hierarchy are understood to be weighing up a January sale in order to secure a transfer fee.
Former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the situation places Palace in a tough position, with financial logic clashing with footballing ambition.
He explained that Guehi is central to everything Palace do, serving as captain and one of their most influential performers. From a sporting perspective, allowing him to leave halfway through the campaign would be a major gamble, especially with the club pushing to climb the table and make progress in Europe.
At the same time, Brown believes the temptation to sell will be strong. Palace came close to sanctioning a move in the summer and were only held back by Glasner’s firm stance, making it likely the issue will resurface when the window reopens.
The club therefore face a difficult decision. Cashing in during January would protect them financially, but losing their defensive leader could severely damage their momentum.
If Guehi does depart, Glasner would expect Palace to reinvest in a high-quality replacement during the window. His call to block a summer exit has paid off on the pitch, with Palace enjoying an impressive campaign that has them sitting fifth in the table, ten points off leaders Arsenal. Still, the manager may soon be forced to plan for the rest of the season without his influential skipper.