Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has officially confirmed that club captain Marc Guehi, a Real Madrid target, will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the current season.
The England international, whose contract expires on June 30, 2026, has decided not to renew his deal, making him one of the most sought-after free agents in next summer’s transfer market.
Speaking at his press conference, Glasner revealed, “Marc Guehi has already told us that he will not be signing a new contract, so he will be leaving next year.
“Not only I, but the whole club wanted Marc to sign a new contract, and we offered it to him, but he wants something different.”
The confirmation ends months of speculation around Guehi’s future. The 25-year-old centre-back, who captained Crystal Palace to their first-ever FA Cup and Community Shield titles, will now be free to choose his next destination.
Real Madrid and Liverpool among favourites
As reported in the past, Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the leading contenders to secure Guehi’s signature, as both European giants see him as a valuable long-term defensive reinforcement.
However, they will face strong competition from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, all of whom have added the Englishman to their transfer lists.
Guehi’s situation has been brewing since last summer, when he came close to joining Liverpool.
The deal was agreed upon, but Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish blocked the move at the last moment.
Despite that setback, Liverpool remain interested, especially as they work on renewing Ibrahima Konate’s contract, which also expires in 2026.
Real Madrid’s strategic interest
For Real Madrid, Guehi represents a potential option for the future as they continue to plan for defensive reinforcements in 2026.
The Spanish giants view him as a “plan B” in case their top targets remain unavailable or extend their contracts elsewhere.
As the 2025–26 season progresses, Guehi’s performances will be closely monitored. With his contract running down, the race for his signature is expected to intensify and securing him on a free transfer next summer could prove to be one of the smartest moves.
Source: AS
