Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season amid interest from Manchester United.
The 51-year-old, who led Crystal Palace to their first major trophy in the FA Cup last season, announced at a press conference that he would be leaving the club at the end of his contract, informing club chairman Steve Parish in October.
independent Glasner is reportedly Manchester United’s top target to replace Ruben Amorim on a permanent basis, with former United midfielder Michael Carrick replacing him after the manager was sacked mid-season.
Crystal Palace are winless in eight games in all competitions and were knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield last weekend. Club captain Marc Gueye is also set to join Manchester City this month. Glasner also confirmed that Guehi will not be involved in the game this weekend following his eventual £20m move to the Etihad Stadium.
When asked about his future, Glasner confirmed: “The decision was made months ago. I met with Steve [Parish] October, international match day. We had a long conversation and I told him I wasn’t going to sign a new contract.
“We agreed at the time that it would be best to keep it a secret. It would be best if we could do that and keep it a secret for three months. But it’s important to have clarity now and we have very busy schedules, so that’s why we don’t want to talk about it. Steve and I wish Crystal Palace all the best.”
Austria coach Glasner masterminded Crystal Palace’s promotion to the FA Cup and victory over Manchester City, but in the summer, Crystal Palace offloaded Wembley hero Eberechi Eze and was sold to Arsenal, while Geshe was linked with Liverpool and his image appeared to be depressed in the summer.
Glasner said he had told his players he would be leaving ahead of the club’s Premier League trip to Sunderland this weekend and pledged to try and deliver another trophy to Selhurst Park before leaving. Earlier on Friday, the Eagles faced HSK Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Europa League play-offs.
“I told Steve [Parish] I was just looking for a new challenge,” Glasner said. “I told him in October that it had nothing to do with the transfer window. I hate it when something is written or said that isn’t true, and it’s hard for me not to respond. We have a good relationship and we are always talking about what is best for Palace.
“I haven’t spoken to any other clubs, I told the players and promised them that I will do everything I can to have the best season in Crystal Palace’s history, the best points tally in their history.
“We are now four points better than we are at this stage of the season and we will do everything we can to bring another trophy back to Selhurst Park.
“We have the division league draw today and we are going to play Mostar from Bosnia in the play-off draw and I looked at the draw and it will be very interesting who we play in our zone. I will do everything I can to help bring a trophy back to Selhurst Park.”
City, meanwhile, are likely to seal a deal worth £20m, with Guhi becoming their second January signing following Antoine Semenho’s £62.5m move from Bournemouth, which would help ease Guardiola’s defensive injury crisis with Josco Gvaldiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones all sidelined.
The cut-price fee is likely to rise with bonuses and a sell-on clause, as Gueye’s contract expires at the end of the season and Palace could lose their captain on a free transfer. Geshe was close to joining Liverpool on the final day of the summer transfer window when a deal worth £35m was agreed, but Palace pulled out of the deal after it was too late to find a replacement.
