Crystal Palace Oliver Glasner has made it clear that Marc Guehi has to stay at the club beyond the transfer window as finding the right replacement “is almost impossible.”
Liverpool are anticipated to make a move for Guehi before Monday’s deadline after seeing the centre-back help Palace to secure their spot in the Europa Conference League.
The Guardian‘s Ed Aarons reported on Thursday that Palace have identified Man City‘s Manuel Akanji and Monaco’s Mohammed Salisu as targets to replace the 25-year-old.
Talks have been ongoing with Palace this week with Liverpool prepared to pay over £30 million for the England international.
But Glasner underlined his stance on the matter ahead of his side’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday evening, insisting his captain has to stay as finding a replacement now is “almost impossible.”
“From my side, it’s now Friday and the window closes on Monday, he has to [stay],” Glasner told reporters.
?? “He has to {stay}, it’s not possible to find a Marc Guehi replacement”
Oliver Glasner says “crucial” Marc Guehi cannot leave Crystal Palace with just three days left of the transfer window. pic.twitter.com/8ZtXYJLibY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 29, 2025
“He has to because it’s not possible, I think, at the moment to find a Marc Guehi replacement who can play straight in the Premier League, being a starter for Crystal Palace, being consistent.
“When we see our foundation of the success we’ve had in the last few months, it’s our defence. Marc is a crucial part, he’s the captain, English international and has the most experience.
“Getting the right replacement in now, I think, is almost impossible.”
Asked if Guehi still wants to be at Palace, Glasner sought to suggest that if the player had signalled his desire to leave a deal would have already been agreed.
“He shows in every game that he’s focused,” Glasner said. “If Marc had said ‘I want to leave Crystal Palace‘, it would already have happened weeks ago.
“It’s because of his situation, nobody to blame for it, if a player has one more year left on his contract and gives the signal, ‘I definitely want to leave’, a deal would happen at every single club.
“Marc is fully committed to the team, he shows it every third day at the moment. It is my point of view that we need to keep Marc.”
While the manager will rightly have his views on the matter from a sporting perspective, he is powerless to his higher-ups agreeing a sale to avoid losing the 25-year-old for free next summer.
Palace chairman Steve Parish has already confirmed as much, as they cannot afford to let him walk away without anything in return – and Guehi’s desire for an Anfield switch removes any potential for a bidding war.