Palace start Eze and Guéhi in Europe

Crystal Palace will start Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi in the Conference League playoff as transfer links persist.

Eze and Guéhi to start for Crystal Palace in Europe despite transfer speculation

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi will start in the first leg of the Conference League playoff on Thursday. He stressed that both players remain fully committed to the club despite ongoing speculation linking Eze with Tottenham Hotspur and Guéhi with Liverpool. Palace are still asking about a fee close to £40m for Guéhi, who captains the side, and Tottenham are reportedly close to concluding a deal for Eze.

The news comes after both players started in Sunday’s goalless draw with Chelsea, with Palace facing Fredrikstad in Norway as part of their European debut. Glasner praised their conduct and said commitment comes with a contract, adding that the club will rely on them for as long as they are part of the squad. Palace are also exploring replacements and targets, including Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester and Christos Tzolis, while keeping an eye on potential loan options to bolster the squad ahead of a busy season.

Palace’s stance reflects a broader tension in modern football: players are valued for both their on-pitch contribution and market potential. By publicly backing Eze and Guéhi, the club attempting to balance ambition with stability, signaling that transferring players will not derail a European push. The transfer chatter can pressure the club to tighten up its finances, yet it also offers leverage in negotiations as Palace weighs long-term goals against short-term gains. This moment tests Glasner’s leadership and the squad’s morale as a European campaign begins under scrutiny.

Highlights

The season’s early European chapter could reshape expectations at Selhurst Park as the window shifts toward a crucial stretch.