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Glasner confirms he will leave Palace this summer
Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of this season, having informed the chair, Steve Parish, in October that he wanted “a new challenge”, and that the captain, Marc Guéhi, is on the verge of joining Manchester City.
Key events
“I watched a lot of matches and I have followed Sunderland ‘Til I Die on Netflix and I found it really interesting to follow the background of how they got to where they were,” Ta Bi told the club website.
A thoroughly watchable sports documentary. A gazillions clubs have tried their own since but haven’t come anywhere close to this.
Some more transfer news: Sunderland have signed Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, 20, from Maccabi Netanya.
Got some questions on the Manchester derby for Jamie Jackson? He’ll be answering from Old Trafford on tomorrow’s Matchday Live from 11 to 11.30. Send them in to [email protected].
It’s not even two years since Glasner joined Crystal Palace; he’s packed in a lot in very little time. A reminder: he joined in February 2024 with the club 15th and five points above the relegation zone. They finished 10th, closing the season with six wins and a draw in their last seven league games. That summer saw the departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, a key part of that unbeaten run, yet Glasner managed to win the FA Cup the following season.
This piece from Will Unwin, when the Austrian arrived, remains pertinent.
Liverpool’s Borggräfe given six-game ban for racist remark
The latest from Tom Garry:
The Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe was given a six-game ban by the Football Association after being found to have made a racist comment that involved reference to skin colour.
Borggräfe has served five matches of that suspension. She accepted the sanction and was also ordered to enrol on an education programme after an FA investigation into the language, which was overheard by some staff and teammates.
The remark is understood to have been heard while Liverpool were preparing to take a squad photograph.
Hello, folks. So where to next for Oliver Glasner? Inevitably, there’ll be more speculation surrounding him and the Manchester United job. With two legends departing Selhurst Park, would be good to hear who Palace fans would like to come in. Get on the emails.
So, to recap. Today’s all about Crystal Palace. Or leaving Crystal Palace. I shall pass over the reins to Taha now.
Back to Marc Guehi, whose transfer fee is now reported to be just £20m, half of most estimates.
Rick Harris gets back in touch: “Marc Guehi moving to City may put John Stones in a difficult position if that means he gets little or no game time when his latest injury comeback occurs. I think Tuchel has to be watching Luke Shaw at United who is back to his best and can play at left centre back or left back thus providing cover options.
“Let’s just imagine it’s 1-1 in the 2026 World Cup Final and 5 minutes left on the clock. Who do I want coming off the bench to nick a late winner? Harry Maguire!”
Carrick on meeting Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the sporting directors, the Glazers etc: “I’ve spoken to Jason Wilcox an awful lot and I’ve been working closely with Jason and Omar [Berrada] as well. Over the last few days, we’ve spoken a lot, as you imagine. The ownership group were in and around it. It was nice to see them and meet them yesterday, and have a small chat yesterday. They’ve taken care of business in some ways. We shared a few things. They wished us all the very best and it was good to see them.”
Michael Carrick, Manchester United’s manager until the end of the season, had this to say about the ex-pro community having their say: “They’re [former players] not putting more pressure on me. I don’t feel that. There are plenty of opinions around, some positive, some not too much. It’s totally irrelevant in terms of what I focus on. I know what we want to improve on, how we want to work with the players. There’s a lot that can be said, it’s the way of the world. I’m not gonna pay too much attention to that. For me, the players and staff it’s a focus on how we’re going to succeed. That’s our job.”
“It didn’t bother me, honestly.”
From the news team, the latest on the Maccabi Tel Aviv story.
Dave Estherby gets in touch on Liam Rosenior so far at Chelsea: “
Clapping in training? AN ACTUAL LEGO BUILDING COMPETITION?! This guy isn’t gonna last 5 minutes, he should be teaching geography not coaching football.
“Coupled with the near CONSTANT “I’ve been fortunate..” and “I’m very lucky…” in answer to almost every question he’s asked and blaming himself for having a poor goalkeeper the other night, I’d be staggered if he’s still in SW3 come May.”
Patience is in such short supply in these end times.
Yet more Glasner, on Marc Guehi: ““When the players want to move on a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.
“Everyone wanted Marc [Guehi] to stay forever. I talked to him, of course, it stays between us. Marc shown it in the summer transfer window, shown it the whole autumn that he was 100% committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.”
Among Guehi’s last acts was that forthright chat with Palace fans after losing at Macclesfield last week.
More Glasner, more bad news for Palace fans as the departing manager confirms Jean-Philippe Mateta can leave if the money is right. Juventus have been linked in Italy. Would the last person to leave Croydon please turn out the light….
Paul Roche gets in touch: “Glasner clearly has his eyes on the Macclesfield job.”
That’s John Rooney’s, mate.
Glasner also confirmed that Marc Guehi’s move to City is imminent, saying the “deal is in the final stages”.
Oliver Glasner, at his Palace press conference today: “I told Steve [Parish] I’m looking for a new challenge. It’s my feeling after everything. I told him in October it’s nothing to do with the transfer window. I hate if something is written that is not true it’s tough for me to respond. We have a great relationship and always talking what’s best for Palace.”
“I haven’t spoken to any other club. I told the players, promised them, I will give my best to get the points record. We will do everything to bring another trophy back to Selhurst Park. We will do our best. For the players alone it’s tough but together it’s possible. I will do everything to bring another trophy to Selhurst and play the best Premier League season ever.”
Glasner confirms he will leave Palace this summer
Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of this season, having informed the chair, Steve Parish, in October that he wanted “a new challenge”, and that the captain, Marc Guéhi, is on the verge of joining Manchester City.
Interesting snippet via the Daily Mail’s Kieran Gill, their Chelsea beat reporter: “A Lego-building competition has been one of Liam Rosenior’s team-bonding ideas since he first became a head coach.”
Also: “Liam Rosenior is not wearing gloves in training so the players can hear his applause when he see’s something he likes. He is also hands on with pausing play if he see’s something he dislikes.”
How many United managers has Pep Guardiola face – Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim. Now it’s Michael Carrick. It’s been a long 10 years for United. For Pep, life’s been good.
“Results, results. If you don’t win, you are sacked. If we don’t win, I would be sacked. We won a lot, that’s why I am sitting here. There is no other secret.
“Another club after last season I would not be here anymore. They are more patient maybe because what we did in the past as well. We had three months that was really poor. The past was really good so that is why I am still here.”
Will Unwin
Quick soundbite from Pep Guardiola on Marc Guehi: “nothing to say.”
Tony Hughes gets in touch: “Disappointed to see Donyell Malen go to Roma. He always looked decent when he played. What’s Emery’s plan here? Bring back Bailey from Roma? Get someone else in on loan at the same wages as Malen (and if so, then who)? It feels like we’ve loaned someone out who plays in a position where Villa don’t have great cover.”
Yes, I was always impressed by his cameos. Emery always has a plan, mind you,
Rick Harris gets out the sliderule and the notebook: “So having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup as a Crystal Palace player, does the impending Marc Guehi move to Manchester City mean that he could play in the second leg against Newcastle, and assuming they win, in the final against likely opponents Arsenal – who he scored against in the quarter final? As this is City’s best chance of silverware this season it does seem a bit shabby that the cup-tied rule change may allow them to buy success with Semenyo also an example of a player who previously would have been ineligible, and for me it undermines the integrity of the Cup competitions.”
Thanks, Michael and Taha. I join you via some grim times on the Avanti express.
Let’s start with Will Unwin’s full story on Marc Guehi. Liverpool fans might be wondering how he’s not playing for them. City it is, and this deal would take their January spending to £100m+. The best available forward plus the best available defender. That’s some team they’re building for Enzo Maresca next season….
Who should partner Guéhi as England’s starting centre-back at the World Cup? Feel free to send your answers to John Brewin – he’s now taking over the blog, my stint is finished. Cheers!
Feel free to email [email protected].
City’s starting centre backs are Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. When those two are not in the side – for example, both were subbed off with injuries in the recent draw against Chelsea – City look extremely shaky at the back. That is obviously something that they are trying to rectify.
Yes, Guéhi’s arrival is bad for Stones, but also for City’s other defenders. Nathan Aké has been linked with a departure, Abdukodir Khusanov is talented but very raw, Vitor Reis (signed for £29m a year ago) is still in development (the 20-year-old is currently on loan at Girona), while the club are not yet ready to trust other promising youngsters like Stephen Mfuni in the Premier League.
It does seem a little odd that Manchester City are the sole bidders for Guéhi in January. Perhaps long-time admirers Liverpool and Arsenal wanted to wait for the summer and pick up the England international on a free transfer, but Manchester City look like they have been decisive, and Crystal Palace (marooned in mid-table and out of both domestic cups) are wise to cash in now.
The potential signing of Guéhi at City is pretty damning for John Stones. Another England defender who is out of contract in the summer, Guardiola admitted in October that the 31-year-old’s chances of earning a contract renewal were dependent upon his form and fitness. Unfortunately, Stones’ last game was on the 2 December, six weeks ago, coming on as a second-half sub in a game where City shipped four goals at Fulham. He hasn’t played a minute since due to injury and there is no date on his return. If Guéhi arrives, Stones is going to struggle for minutes. Arguably England’s best defender when he is at the top of his game, there is a very real possibility that he won’t be part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad in the summer.
Manchester City close on signing of Marc Guéhi from Palace
Will Unwin
Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace. The centre-back’s contract expires at the end of the season and the Eagles are open to selling him for a fee in the region of £40m.
The England international almost joined Liverpool in the summer transfer window before Palace pulled out of the deal. It is understood Guehi is keen on the move to the Etihad Stadium and talks should progress over the coming days and personal terms are not thought to be an issue.
Salah is due back at Liverpool after Egypt’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations ends on Saturday. Egypt face Nigeria in a third-place play-off in Casablanca after suffering another loss to a Sadio Mané-inspired Senegal in the semi-finals, and Salah could make an immediate return to Arne Slot’s squad for their Champions League trip to Marseille next week.
Interesting that Salah is one of only three Europe-based players in the Egypt squad, alongside Omar Marmoush from Manchester City and Mostafa Mohamed from Nantes.
David Hytner has written on Arsenal, following their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win at Chelsea, and and why they are a team that refuse to be bullied.
As Taha mentioned, there were no dynamite Arteta quotes from his Arsenal press conference, before Saturday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest. But here are a few anyway.
We are building very good momentum and belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown throughout 32 games this season. What we did the other day at Stamford Bridge should help us to be very convinced that we have the ability to do that. But the reality is you have to show it in every game. There is still so much to happen. But we are glad that we are still alive in the four competitions.
He also called Sean Dyche a “top coach”, which is nice. According to Arteta, Forest are now “very efficient in what they do with a clear identity. That is what makes them dangerous.”
Here’s Michael Butler to take you through the next hour.
Nothing particularly engrossing from Mikel Arteta’s press conference it seems. He batted away an animated exchange between Declan Rice and assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg in the tunnel during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final at Chelsea. “All sorted, all good,” said Arteta. “The good thing is that by the time I found out, the problem was resolved so that’s very good.”
Just been going through the first competitive games of recent Manchester United managers. Ruben Amorim began with a draw at Ipswich, Erik Ten Hag lost at home to Brighton, José Mourinho won the Community Shield against Leicester, Swansea beat Louis van Gaal’s side, while David Moyes triumphed against Wigan.
It’s the stopgaps who have had an excellent time. Ryan Giggs’ team beat Norwich 4-0, Ole Gunnar Solskjær – initially an interim – won 5-1 against Cardiff City. Michael Carrick, Ralf Rangnick and Ruud van Nistelrooy all secured victories, too.
Manchester United have signed Sweden’s Ellen Wangerheim … but they’re going to be without Ella Toone for a while due to a hip injury. Tom Garry has more:
A very poor 9/15 from me.
Afcon is moving to a four-year cycle, a decision the Confederation of African Football has been accused of forcing through without proper consultation. Ed Aarons and Romain Molina report:
Several presidents of African football federations have told the Guardian they were not informed of the decision until it was surprisingly announced by the Caf president, Patrice Motsepe, on 20 December, prompting claims that the confederation breached its statutes by failing to seek approval at a general assembly.
Michael Butler has revisited the three ages of Michael Carrick at Manchester United, including his managerial debut against Villarreal in November 2021. He won two and drew once in three games as the caretaker manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjær was sacked.
Liverpool’s right-back question, Wolves’ unbeaten run and more in our latest TPs.
Here’s today’s tittle-tattle:
Eddie Howe expects Fabian Schär to be out for three months. The defender underwent surgery on Thursday after sustaining an ankle injury in Newcastle’s victory against Leeds last week.
“He had a successful surgery yesterday which is great news,” said Howe. “Everything went according to plan. It’s difficult to give a definitive but I think roughly around three months will be the diagnosis we’ll work towards. If it’s any quicker then great, but we need to give Fabian time to recover, it’s quite a serious injury.”
Here’s Slot on Mo Salah, who will return to Liverpool after Egypt’s Afcon third-place playoff against Nigeria.
First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday and then he comes back to us and I’m happy that he comes back. Similar to Andy, Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back. Even if I had 15 attackers, I still would have been happy if he would have come back but that is not our situation. Happy to have him back after an important game that he still has to play.
Arne Slot has been speaking to the media:
On Andy Robertson, who has admitted his future at Liverpool is unclear:
I have to give him a big compliment about the things he said. Very mature and I could understand everything he was saying. Every player should have the same feeling about his current position and that’s that he’s not starting every game. But I’m really happy that he also said he finds joy in the position he’s in and that he also understands how important he’s been to this club for all these years.
He did play quite a lot of games, not as much as he probably hoped. But the way he’s been acting and his comments in the media is a big compliment and says a lot about him.
Malen leaves Aston Villa to join Roma
Donyell Malen is on the move. Villa say he has joined Roma for an undisclosed fee … while the Italian club say he has signed on loan with an option to buy. Some clarity would be much appreciated. Malen scored seven goals in 29 games for Villa this season and departs after a year, having joined from Borussia Dortmund last January.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello. The big story this weekend is Michael Carrick’s second debut as Manchester United’s manager/head coach, and what a task it is: the noisy neighbours at home. How things have changed since his first Manchester derby as a player, a 3-1 victory for United in December 2006, with goals from Louis Saha, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo – and a first and last City strike for Hatem Trabelsi. We’ll be looking ahead to that and much more.
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