Crystal Palace have begun contract talks with manager Oliver Glasner as the club seeks to secure his future while outside interest persists. The 51-year-old is out of contract next summer and Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed discussions have started over an extension.

Palace arrived at the talks off the back of a 19-game unbeaten run across all competitions, a sequence that was ended by Jack Grealish and Everton just before the October international break. That run and Palace’s free-flowing style have helped Glasner attract admirers beyond Selhurst Park.

Glasner has been linked with Manchester United amid pressure on current boss Ruben Amorim, and Bayern Munich have also been mentioned as a possible destination. Glasner is no stranger to Germany after managing Eintracht Frankfurt and is noted for lifting the 2021–22 Europa League with the club.

On talkSPORT, Parish outlined Palace’s intentions. “We’ve had some early conversations,” he told talkSPORT. “We’d love to keep Oliver. We’re building something. I think for Oliver it’s about the conditions being right… it’s about everything being in a way that he enjoys his work and he finds the conditions favourable to achieve.

“Oliver wants to win things. If we can align those interests then hopefully we can make something happen.”

Whether Manchester United will pursue a change remains uncertain. Amorim has faced sustained criticism of his tactics and a testing relationship with the media, though he has consistently said he will not walk away from Old Trafford regardless of results.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called for patience and recently committed to giving Amorim time to prove himself. “Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years,” Ratcliffe said. “Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight,” he continued when asked if Amorim would be given that amount of time. “It’s three years. You also look at Arteta at Arsenal . He had a miserable time over the first couple of years.

“We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn’t a light switch. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”

Marcus Rashford has acknowledged that consistency remains the central issue in his game and suggested his time at Manchester United contributed to that problem. The England forward was responding to assessments from figures such as Thomas Tuchel that his tendency to produce sporadic brilliance, rather than sustained excellence, is his defining weakness.

“For sure, consistency is a massive part of it,” he told ITV. “I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent.

“But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game and I am looking to do that. I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible.

“When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train.

“We have just had so many changes so far in my career but I have to look forward and that is definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often.

“When I am at my best I really enjoy everything about the sport.”

Rashford’s senior United career spanned numerous managerial changes. Ruben Amorim was the sixth permanent manager he experienced at club level. He made his debut under Louis van Gaal and later worked with José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, while also experiencing brief caretaker spells under Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

His most productive period at the club came under Solskjær, when he recorded 55 goals and 36 assists in 135 appearances. No manager has given him more minutes or more appearances than the Norwegian.

Now on loan at Barcelona and working with Hansi Flick, Rashford has made a strong start in Catalonia. The La Liga champions have the option to sign him permanently when his loan expires last summer and recent reports suggest everyone involved is keen on that outcome.

Ryan Gravenberch left the Netherlands’ game at half time with muscular discomfort, adding to Liverpool’s mounting fitness worries ahead of the Premier League derby with Manchester United this Sunday. Gravenberch, who won a penalty converted by his clubmate Cody Gakpo in a 4–0 win over Malta, had started again against Finland but did not complete the match.

“Ryan indicated he had some minor hamstring problems,” Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman revealed postgame. “Of course, we didn’t take any risks with that.”

The midfielder offered a more positive read on his condition. “It was partly fitness related,” he noted. “The season is long, so it was a precaution. I’m feeling good and I have the coach’s confidence.”

Liverpool will want the towering Dutchman available as they attempt to arrest a worrying run of form, but Arne Slot faces multiple selection headaches beyond Gravenberch’s situation. Ibrahima Konaté was released from his national team this month after damaging his quad in Liverpool’s late defeat to Chelsea at the start of October. Some reports suggest there is hope Konaté will be fit in time for the visit of Manchester United, but there is no guarantee.

If Konaté is unavailable, Slot would have only two senior centre backs to select from because Giovanni Leoni remains absent long term. Virgil van Dijk would likely start, potentially partnered by Joe Gomez, who last completed 90 minutes in a Premier League match on Boxing Day. Defensive midfielder Wataru Endo is another option to slide into the centre of defence, but he withdrew from Japan’s squad this month with an injury of undisclosed severity.

Even should Gravenberch be declared fit, Slot may still consider using him in a deeper defensive role rather than in midfield. The manager must weigh limited personnel options alongside tactical concerns as Liverpool prepare for a pivotal derby against Manchester United.