Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has accepted that Marc Guehi’s future will be “the player’s decision,” amid Liverpool’s interest in the defender.
While Glasner confirmed Guehi will captain Crystal Palace against Liverpool on Sunday, the coach wasn’t as convincing when asked about his skipper’s long-term future.
With the 25-year-old’s contract expiring next summer, the same point at which Glasner’s current deal runs out, the manager said: “Marc and me – we have the same fate.
“I can’t speak, you have to ask Marc. At the end, it’s always the player’s decision. Marc decides about his future.
“Of course, everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract. It will be his decision.
COLOGNE, GERMANY - Tuesday, June 25, 2024: England's Marc Guéhi during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia at the Müngersdorfer Stadium. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Everybody wants to keep this squad together as it did so well. I don’t know how often this happens here at Palace. We never know what will happen in this sometimes crazy transfer market.”
Liverpool are widely credited with targeting the England international. However, with no official bid reported, it appears Palace are attempting to hold out for a price higher than Liverpool are currently offering.
With just a year left on Guehi’s contract, Liverpool are unwilling to meet Palace’s asking price of £50 million said the Times.
Meanwhile, the report also states Newcastle are interested but they, too, are not planning to pay £50m for Guehi’s services.
For the moment, the clubs are at a stalemate. Palace know that Liverpool, having sold Jarell Quansah, are short of centre-backs, while the Reds know Palace risk losing Guehi for free next summer.
In terms of other defenders linked to Liverpool, Parma defender Giovanni Leoni is the most notable of the three mentioned to have been scouted by the Mail‘s Lewis Steele.
• READ: Why Giovanni Leoni is among Liverpool’s young centre-back targets
Leoni is still only 18 years of age, turning 19 in December, and he made his professional debut with Padova in Serie C at the age of 16 years and three months.
He is comfortable playing with both feet and is ranked in the 64th percentile for successful dribbles per 90, while a passing accuracy of 88.7 percent has him in the top 38 percent of centre-backs, according to FotMob.