Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has admitted that he 'doesn't know' if Marc Guehi will sign a new contract - just months after the Eagles turned down big-money offers from Newcastle United for their captain.
Newcastle ultimately stopped formally bidding for the England international in the final weeks of the summer window. Newcastle felt that Crystal Palace's demands went beyond the club's limits and beyond what the Magpies should pay after Guehi entered the final two years of his contract at the time.
Although Guehi has gone on to play his part in Crystal Palace securing safety, and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, the Eagles obviously face a challenge to get the 'superstar money' chairman Steve Parish demanded from Newcastle if the defender does not sign a new deal.
"We haven’t just started talking about his contract," Glasner revealed. "The talks were going on even before I arrived - for more than two years now.
"Marc is thinking what is best for his personal career and this is what we have to accept. I don’t know [if he will sign a new deal]. I don’t think about what happens in summer. On the 26th of May, I will turn my phone off for one or two weeks and then we will see what happens.
"Everybody knows he is a great footballer and a great character. Let’s see what happens. But, of course, no manager would want to lose their captain. It will be Marc’s decision, but I know that he is so focused on improving his game and our game. It has no influence on his performances."
Parish previously claimed that Crystal Palace 'wanted to be selling to clubs like Newcastle, who have got great aspirations and have recently been in the Champions League'. However, the Crystal Palace chairman also stressed that players like Guehi 'have to realise that the club comes first and we have got to do our best to make sure that the club thrives'.
