Crystal Palace
Parish Explains Palace’s Choice to Keep Marc Guéhi Despite Transfer Trade-Off
Parish says Palace kept Marc Guéhi to protect league and Conference League ambitions to win revenue.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confirmed the club withdrew from talks with Liverpool over centre back Marc Guéhi, electing to retain the England international even though he is in the final year of his contract.
Parish acknowledged the gamble involved. Guéhi is widely expected to leave on a free transfer next summer, with Liverpool reportedly set to face competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid for his signature. That means Palace will forgo a potential £35 million transfer fee if the defender departs at the end of his deal.
Losing the fee was weighed against on-field and commercial considerations. Parish argued Palace could generate greater value by keeping Guéhi and aiming for stronger finishes in the Premier League and in the club’s first ever Conference League campaign.
“It’s a difficult decision,” he told talkSPORT . “It’s as simple as that. These things are never black and white.
“I decided in the end that, based on the advice that I got and with what I think, that we would have a better season if we kept Marc.
“We don’t guess about these things. If you look at it rationally, if you look at what it’s worth, the place in the Premier League, the fact that we’re in the Conference League for the first time in our history, this is a fairly unusual set of circumstances in which to keep a player.
“If we were fighting between the difference of 10th and 14th, if that was going to be the difference between keeping Marc and letting Marc go, then probably we would have said right, ‘We should take the money.’”
Reports suggest Liverpool will not renew their pursuit in the January window and will instead aim to sign Guéhi on a free transfer next summer. FIFA rules would allow Barcelona and Real Madrid to make contact as early as January, potentially giving them an advantage.
For his part, Guéhi remains focused on the current campaign with Palace and is confident he can secure a place in England’s World Cup squad next summer before deciding on his future.
Crystal Palace
Parish sets out Palace position amid Manchester United interest in Adam Wharton
Palace chairman Steve Parish says Wharton has a long contract and is not pressured to leave for now.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has responded to renewed reports linking Adam Wharton with Manchester United, insisting the club is under no immediate pressure to sell the midfielder.
Reports in the English press say Manchester United have joined the list of suitors, with manager Ruben Amorim said to have specifically requested Wharton as a replacement for Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Parish addressed that speculation during an appearance on talkSPORT and made clear Palace’s stance.
“If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, that’s nothing surprising really about that,” Parish said.
“The fact of the matter is he’s got a long contract to run. There’s no pressure on us to do it, and I don’t think there’s any real pressure from the player either.”
Palace are understood to be keen to reward Wharton’s emergence by offering a new contract, but Parish acknowledged competition for the midfielder’s signature will complicate talks. The chairman also warned that the player’s ambitions could ultimately be a factor.
“I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club,” he continued.
Parish stressed Wharton’s focus remains on Palace and on building consistent game time after a disrupted previous season.
“He’s an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can’t speak for Adam, but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace.
“He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had that a lot of young players get. I think this season he’s completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday or Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It’s a difficult programme for us right now.
“I think he’s very committed to the club. I don’t know where all this stuff comes from.”
Palace’s negotiating position, Parish indicated, is strengthened by Wharton’s contract and by the club’s desire to retain a key young midfielder unless an exceptional offer arrives.
Crystal Palace
Haaland and Glasner Sweep September Premier League Monthly Awards
Haaland wins September Player of the Month; Oliver Glasner earns Manager award after Palace unbeaten
Erling Haaland has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for September 2025 after a run of strong performances for Manchester City. The striker collected the prize as City went through an unbeaten September and secured important wins for their supporters.
“I’m really happy to win this award for a fourth time,” Haaland told club media . “It always means a lot, so thank you to everyone who voted for me. I also want to thank my teammates, the coaches and all the staff—we do everything together.
“September was an important month for us as a team. We played some really good football, stayed unbeaten, and got important wins for our fans. I’m happy I could help the team with goals and performances.
“Now we just keep going—keep working hard every day, because there’s a tough schedule after the international break. Hopefully we can keep the same level and win even more games.”
On the managerial side, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was awarded Manager of the Month after an impressive September at the helm of the Eagles. Palace finished the month as the Premier League’s only undefeated team, following a draw with Sunderland with big wins over West Ham United and reigning champions Liverpool. Glasner’s work with the FA Cup and Community Shield winners was singled out as Palace reached new heights in the early season.
The outcome marks Crystal Palace’s first Manager of the Month success since April 2014, when Tony Pulis collected the trophy. The monthly honours list also records past winners for context: Jack Grealish (Everton) was cited for August, as was Arne Slot (Liverpool) for the same month.
These awards underline the players and managers who have had the most influence on Premier League results in the opening stages of the 2025/26 season.
Crystal Palace
Guéhi: Transfer Noise Irrelevant While He Focuses on Palace and England
Guehi says transfer links to top European clubs ‘don’t matter’ as long as he plays well for Palace..
Marc Guéhi has tried to deflect persistent transfer speculation linking him to Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich by returning attention to his performances for Crystal Palace and England.
The centre-back remained at Palace when summer approaches cooled, but his situation is unfinished. He is out of contract at the end of the season, which would allow him to leave as a free agent. That status keeps the door open for a January revival of interest from Liverpool, particularly after Giovanni Leoni was sidelined with a serious knee injury and defensive cover at Anfield is thin. Ibrahima Konaté is also currently sidelined and his own contract situation means he is not guaranteed to be at Anfield next season.
Equally, if no Palace agreement is reached by January, Guéhi could sign a pre-contract with a European club to secure a summer move overseas. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have all been named among potential destinations. Madrid reinforced in June with Dean Huijsen, but David Alaba will turn 34 just days before his contract expires next summer and Antonio Rüdiger is advancing in years, prompting immediate planning. Barcelona have Pau Cubarsí but lack a clear marquee defensive partner. At Bayern, the futures of Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano have been the subject of speculation.
Guéhi has been praised for how he has handled the links, a contrast with the public transfer actions of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Yoane Wissa. Publicly he has kept a steady message. “For me, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m playing well for Palace, there is an opportunity for me to be here [with England],” the 25-year-old told reporters while on international duty. “Whether it’s sorted or not, it doesn’t matter for me.
“Personally, I don’t know if I can think that far ahead. I like to just take it step by step, and that is just focusing on the games that I have at Palace and any upcoming opportunities I have here.”
