There may be a sense of optimism in the Crystal Palace camp heading into the new Premier League season.
But positivity only has a limited supply.
Yes, an outstanding end to the previous campaign has supporters dreaming of better – and more exciting – days under the highly-popular head coach Oliver Glasner.
A goal-laden pre-season has only increased the optimism, Crystal Palace cruising past Wolves and West Ham while blooding many a youngster.
But while Palace appear to still be on the right path despite losing assist-machine Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, especially after reuniting Glasner with Daichi Kamada to pick up some of the slack following his miserable spell at Lazio, another key departure may threaten to undo much of the good work done by Roy Hodgson’s Selhurst Park successor.
Despite standing firm on their £65 million valuation, the Palace fans are still counting down the days until the summer window shuts.
Crystal Palace hope to keep Marc Gueh from Newcastle United
Newcastle have now submitted three bids for Marc Guehi.
And, despite chairman Steve Parish’s assertion that a ‘superstar’ football requires a ‘superstar’ transfer fee, the Saudi-backed Magpies have shown little appetite to do what Man United did with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and walk away in search of a more affordable alternative.
Even if they were to do that, their ‘affordable alternative’ appears to be no longer on the market. AC Milan will keep Malick Thiaw, HITC understands, if Pierre Kalulu swaps the Rossoneri for Juventus.
As for Palace, with many other mid-ranking sides spending well and with there being few obvious weak spots in the division this season, Paul Merson wonders if the excitement could soon turn to exasperation if Guehi was to follow Olise out the door.
HITC, meanwhile, have learned that the uber-talented Ebere Eze is on Manchester City’s radar after the Premier League champions sold Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid.
Oliver Glasner has already lost Michael Olise
“Crystal Palace were their own undoing last season because they finished their campaign so well,” Merson tells Sportskeeda, The Eagles arguably a victim of their own successes.
“Guehi and Eze could now be leaving the club, and I’d be worried if I was a Palace fan.
“Before you know it, they could become a massive relegation contender. I’d watch this space with Crystal Palace till the transfer window ends.”
Ever the professional, Guehi is almost certain to start during Sunday’s 2pm kick-off against Brentford.
Speaking to Sky Sports, a man who was labelled ‘exceptional’ by Gareth Southgate during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final opted to keep the speculation at arms’ length.
“Other people have called Guehi a superstar. And Parish said, quite rightly, if he’s a superstar then you have to pay superstar money,” Simon Jordan, who spent ten years at the helm of Crystal Palace until 2010, tells talkSPORT (14 August, 11.20am).
“I am surprised it is Newcastle in for Guehi. I am surprised bigger clubs (aren’t going for him).”
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