Crystal Palace Set to Sell Captain Marc Guehi Amid Contract Stalemate

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confirmed that the club will likely sell captain Marc Guehi this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of his contract.

The England international, whose current deal runs until 2026, has entered the final 12 months of his agreement at Selhurst Park without signs of a new contract being agreed. Palace had turned down multiple offers from Newcastle United in January. The highest worth £65 million, in hopes that Guehi would commit his future to the club.

Parish admitted that while the club would prefer to keep the 24yr old, financial realities mean they cannot allow a player of his calibre to walk away for nothing.

“We’d have to do that, of course,” Parish said. “For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it’s a problem for us unfortunately. Joachim [Andersen] went to Fulham last summer and we couldn’t afford to lose both. We then had another bid in January but that was a different situation. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”

Liverpool remain interested in Guehi, though the Merseyside club are reluctant to meet Palace’s £40m valuation. The Reds have already spent around £270m this summer but have recouped roughly £170m in player sales. It is unclear whether they will spend heavily on Guehi now or wait until he becomes available on a free transfer in 2026.

If no agreement is reached in the coming weeks, Guehi’s departure would mark a significant loss for Palace, both in leadership and defensive strength.