Palace determined to put up a DEFENCE

GLASNER WARY OF FURTHER INTEREST FROM REDS FOR GUEHI - AND WHARTON...

- By THEO SQUIRES

LIVER Glasner expects Marc Guehi to finish the season at Crystal Palace.

The England international, who saw a £35m move to Liverpool collapse on transfer deadline day back in the summer, is out of contract at the end of the season and set to leave Selhurst Park on a free transfer.

The Palace captain had been undergoing a medical with the Reds after agreeing terms, only for Eagles chairman Steve Parish to pull the plug on the deal after the South London club failed to sign a replacement for the centre-back.

Liverpool remain interested in the defender, but they are not the only side keen on securing his services.

Earlier this week, the Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester City had added Guehi to their own transfer shortlist ahead of a possible summer move when his contract expires.

It remains to be seen if the Reds will make a renewed bid for Guehi when the transfer window reopens in January, though Liverpool are currently short on options at centre-back.

Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury, while Joe Gomez limped off with a hamstring issue in the Reds’ win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Such absences leave Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as Arne Slot's only available senior options.

However, having kept hold of Guehi in the summer, Palace boss Glasner has dismissed the possibility of his captain leaving mid-season.