Manchester City Moves for Guehi Amid Palace Management Changes
Losing both a manager and a captain in one day poses significant challenges that will take time to overcome.
Manchester City has swiftly moved to secure Crystal Palace's captain, Marc Guehi, agreeing to an initial £20 million deal. This comes as head coach Oliver Glasner announced he would be departing Selhurst Park at the end of the season.
These developments were not entirely unexpected. BBC Sport reported that City accelerated their pursuit of Guehi last Monday following injuries to defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias.
On Thursday night, after discussions between City and Palace, a principle agreement was reached for Guehi's transfer to Etihad Stadium.
Even if City had not succeeded in signing Guehi this month, it was known that his contract expires in June, making his departure inevitable.
Similarly, Glasner's announcement on Friday, while surprising, did not come as a shock. He revealed that he had informed chairman Steve Parish of his decision to leave in October, coinciding with reports that Palace's hopes of retaining him beyond this season were slim.
According to Glasner, he and Parish had agreed to keep this information confidential until they both felt ready to make it public.
This did not stop speculation surrounding Glasner's future, as his intention to leave Palace had become one of the worst-kept secrets in English football.
Sources suggest that the decision to sell Guehi to City may have influenced Glasner's surprising announcement during his weekly press conference. However, the primary concern for Palace now lies in preparing for life without their most successful manager and captain.
How Did It All Unfold?
On Friday, Glasner gathered all players and staff at the training ground just before noon. While the news was not shocking to the players, the timing raised questions: Why now?
Prior to addressing his team, Guehi had confirmed his intent to join Manchester City. Glasner, a staunch supporter of Guehi, will continue to back him even after their parting.
It had always been Glasner's plan for both him and Guehi to exit at the season's end. However, with Guehi's departure being expedited, Glasner's decision to announce his own departure seems less surprising.
Nonetheless, tensions between Glasner and the Palace hierarchy had been apparent since the summer. The coach expressed frustration over a lack of new signings, with only back-up left-back Borna Sosa and second-choice goalkeeper Walter Benitez joining the club before the season commenced.
Palace had aimed to sign Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande, but negotiations never progressed. Glasner believed the club should have built on last season's FA Cup success to strengthen the squad for both Premier League and European competition.
Eventually, Palace signed Yeremy Pino for £26 million, along with young talents Christantus Uche and Jaydee Canvot. However, Uche and Canvot saw limited playing time, leading Glasner to rely on a familiar squad, which lost key player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.
Palace began the season positively, with many predicting a push for a Champions League spot. Yet, Glasner sensed trouble ahead. Having previously excelled in managing both domestic and European competitions, he worried that his reluctance to rotate the squad indicated his intention not to renew his contract.
"It's as if he has been extracting maximum effort from the players because he knows he is leaving anyway," remarked a source.
Glasner's concerns proved valid as the team now faces a nine-match winless streak, with their latest defeat occurring against non-league Macclesfield in an embarrassing FA Cup exit. Currently, they sit 13th in the Premier League ahead of this weekend's match against Sunderland.
Preventing Guehi's transfer to Liverpool for £35 million last summer was seen as a minor victory for Glasner, who insisted the defender should not be sold, even at the risk of losing him for nothing this summer.
Despite Glasner's assertion that he would not have reconsidered his position had Palace sold Guehi over the summer, sources suggest he would have contemplated his future immediately if that had occurred.
Even after informing Parish of his intention to step down during a dinner in October, it seemed Palace had not entirely given up hope of convincing their manager to stay. The club's record signing of Brennan Johnson is believed to have been influenced by Glasner. Parish also played a significant role in ensuring Johnson arrived early in the January window, an effort interpreted as a move to demonstrate the club's commitment to strengthening the squad under Glasner's guidance.
Despite these efforts, Palace has already begun identifying potential candidates to succeed Glasner.
Key Injuries Prompt Manchester City to Act
Guehi's departure will be a significant loss for Palace. However, the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, compete for titles, and play in the Champions League was an opportunity too enticing to pass up.
Initially, Guehi had no plans to leave Selhurst Park in January. After missing a move to Anfield on summer transfer deadline day, he was determined to stay until the season's end. Liverpool and Bayern Munich were reportedly the frontrunners for his signature.
Liverpool's interest in Guehi has been longstanding, raising questions about their next steps in search of a new center-back. Bayern Munich also expressed strong interest, with head coach Vincent Kompany taking a particular liking to the 25-year-old, while England teammate Harry Kane encouraged Guehi to join him in Germany.
City also considered Guehi's potential at the end of the season, believing they had a compelling case to sign him. However, injuries to Gvardiol and Dias during a recent match against Chelsea prompted City to accelerate their interest.
Once the necessary paperwork is finalized, Guehi is expected to travel north within the next 72 hours to complete the transfer formalities.
With Dias and Gvardiol sidelined, Guehi is anticipated to play a crucial role in the team's upcoming fixtures.