Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is out of contract at the end of the season, when he will be available for free, and Manchester United have made him their top choice as Ruben Amorim’s long-term successor
Oliver Glasner is to “intensify” talks about a new Crystal Palace deal this month before making a “final decision” about his future. But the Austrian insisted a long contract does not guarantee staying at a club – and claimed new record signing Brennan Johnson could be sold this summer for a “massive fee”.
Glasner, who led the Eagles to FA Cup glory last year, is on Manchester United’s radar as he is out of contract and available for free at the end of the season.
The Europa League champion with Eintracht Frankfurt is a proven winner and a good communicator. He also deploys a variation of the 3-4-3 system used by Ruben Amorim at the South London club, though whether that is a plus point for the Old Trafford club and their fans is now debatable. Palace are also without a win in seven games in all competitions.
READ MORE: Oliver Glasner gives cryptic response to Man Utd job links – ‘I am not allowed’READ MORE: Top five candidates to replace Ruben Amorim at Man Utd – who they’ve managed and win rates
Glasner claimed before Christmas that Palace’s hectic fixture schedule – with eight games in December – meant there was no time for contract talks.
But before facing Aston Villa on Wednesday night, the Eagles boss said: “I think in the next weeks, we will intensify the talks. With Macclesfield, Friday again, we go up north, and then everyone gets three days off after Macclesfield and then we have to target four regular weeks and in those weeks we will intensify the talks and I expect to find a final decision.”
Glasner, who replaced Roy Hodgson in February 2024, is the eighth longest-serving manager in the top flight. And he is relaxed about putting pen to paper – and getting linked with the Manchester United job.
During his 51-minute press conference yesterday, the 51-year-old said: “There has been speculation since I arrived. So, believe me, I don’t really care about it. I can sign today, or a player can sign a contract extension today and leave in summer. That’s why for me, the length of a contract in these times doesn’t say anything about your future.
“How long does Brennan’s contract last? Four and a half years? So, if you sign a four-year contract, you can’t honestly expect that you’re always having the same manager, and I think that’s why a player never signs just for a manager, he signs for a club, for the vision of a club. It’s not Oliver Glasner.
“Of course, you want to hear from the actual manager but that doesn’t mean this lasts forever.
“I talk to Brennan but to be honest, let’s talk about just our situation. Brennan signs now, he scores now, 12 goals until summer, a big club comes, pays a massive fee and he leaves. and I sign a new contract and I can’t say: ‘We talked about it, you know, we’ve worked together for three years, why don’t you stay anymore?’”
Johnson was signed for £35m at the start of the January window after Glasner had previously complained about Palace’s slow buying business.
The South London club have sold Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in the last two summer windows and are set to lose captain Marc Guehi either this January or at the end of the season.
After winning Palace’s first major trophy and taking them into the UEFA Conference League, it is debatable what more Glasner can achieve at Selhurst Park.
But the Austrian stated: “Believe me, nothing that happens in the transfer window, nothing, affects my decision, nothing. In both directions.”
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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