MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Manchester City are close to signing defender Marc Guehi, manager Oliver Glasner said Friday, while also announcing that he will step down as Crystal Palace manager at the end of the season.
England international Guehi was widely expected to join the Premier League champions at the end of the season after a proposed move to Liverpool fell through on the summer transfer deadline day.
But City have stepped in as manager Josep Guardiola looks to ramp up his bid for Premier League and Champions League titles.
“The latest understanding is that the contract for Marc is in the final stages,” Glasner told reporters ahead of Saturday’s match between Palace and Sunderland. “If the players wanted to move, the deal would be done and now it looks like that has happened.”
Glasner is due to leave Palace at the end of this season when his contract expires, but Guehi said he would not feature in the game against Sunderland.
Guardiola, who has already made one key signing in the January transfer window in Antoine Semenyo, did not comment on the 25-year-old Gehi.
The centre-back is in the final year of his contract with Palace and the move means the London club will receive a transfer fee rather than lose him as a free agent.
“Everyone wanted Mark to stay forever,” Glassner said. “I spoke to him and of course it’s just between us. Marc showed that in the summer transfer window and he showed throughout the autumn that he is 100 per cent committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.
“I wish him the best for the rest of his career. He’s still at the beginning of a great career. He’s a great guy.”
The announcement of Glasner’s departure after leading Palace to FA Cup glory last year will fuel speculation of a move to Manchester United.
United sacked manager Ruben Amorim last week and appointed former player Michael Carrick until the end of the season.
Glasner has reportedly been praised by United’s top brass after winning major trophies with former clubs Eintracht Frankfurt and Palace and proving he can cope with England’s top flight.
“My decision was already made several months ago,” said the 51-year-old Austrian. “I had a meeting with[co-owner Steve Parish]during the international break in October. We had dinner and had a very long conversation and told him that I would not be signing a new contract with Crystal Palace.”
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