Oliver Glasner has reaffirmed that Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi will both start for Crystal Palace in Thursday’s Conference League playoff first leg against Fredrikstad, stressing that the England pair remain fully committed to the club despite ongoing transfer speculation. Arsenal have reportedly agreed a £68 million deal for Eze, while Liverpool are said to be leading the race to sign Guéhi, whose Palace contract runs out next year and who Palace value at around £40m.
The two started Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea despite the swirling rumours, and they would be eligible to feature in Palace’s European tie on Thursday after news of the transfer chatter circulated. Glasner commended the players for their conduct throughout the week.
I think it’s also the right of a club and the duty of a player to give 100% as long as he’s under contract, he said. On the other side, I know this is the theory. I think many of you were surprised that Marc and Ebs started and played almost the whole game against Chelsea. Most of you will be surprised that they will start again tomorrow because of all the rumours, but again they are committed to the team. They have a contract here. They played a crucial part that we could be so successful and they will play a crucial part as long as they are here. When one of the players will leave, which I don’t know at the moment, they want to leave as the players who always give 100% for Crystal Palace.
Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson echoed the sentiment, saying: I think the pair of them are great lads and they’re so committed and so professional. I’m sure they’ll keep staying committed throughout and they’re always here to help the team and they’re part of us at the minute, so we’ll keep enjoying it.
This marks Palace’s first foray into major European competition in their history, with the tie against Fredrikstad offering a route to the Conference League group stage after UEFA’s sanction saw them removed from the Europa League due to multiclub ownership rules. Glasner warned not to underestimate the Norwegian side, insisting that his FA Cup-winning squad can use the disappointment of missing out on a higher-profile competition as motivation.
It’s the reward for the club to take part in the European competition for all their effort last season, he added.
Looking ahead, Palace are close to finalising a deal with Leicester for Bilal El Khannouss to slot in as a potential Eze successor. They have also shown interest in Christos Tzolis, though Club Brugge are reluctant to sell the Greek forward this summer. In defense, Lloyd Kelly, who left Bournemouth for Juventus, could be a potential replacement for Guéhi. Glasner is also keen to bring in Hwang Hee-chan on loan, though he needs Wolves to find a replacement for the South Korean forward first.
What this means for Palace:
– Eze and Guéhi feature in the first leg amid ongoing transfer speculation, signaling their commitment as the club plans for European football this season.
– Palace are actively exploring replacements and reinforcements to strengthen the squad for both domestic and European campaigns.
– The club’s European adventure, though born from a sanction, could provide a platform for growth and momentum as they navigate a busy summer window.
Summary: Crystal Palace confirm Eze and Guéhi will start in the Conference League playoff despite transfer links, while the club pursues reinforcements and looks to convert a challenging situation into a strong European campaign. The atmosphere around Selhurst Park remains hopeful, with players and staff emphasizing commitment and forward planning.