Crystal Palace May Struggle to Continue Recent Success as Key Duo Move Closer to Departures

After winning their first two major trophies in the past four months, Crystal Palace are on a high heading into the new Premier League campaign. However, the potential departures of Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could derail their chances of continuing their recent success. 

Captain Guehi is on the verge of a switch to Liverpool, with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal considering a move for Eze. Both players are going to be difficult to replace.

Replacements in The Mould of Club Captain are Difficult to Find

25-year-old Guehi has seen his game develop substantially since moving to Selhurst Park from Chelsea in 2021. The defender has become a fixture in the England set-up and started the European Championship final defeat to Spain in 2024.

Guehi has displayed an excellent ability to read the game, and his attributes can be compared to those of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. The England star is often seen blocking key efforts on goal, ranking in the top 20 among all players in the top flight for total shots blocked.

The evidence is there as Liverpool has struggled without their colossal presence in the back four.

No central defender in the Premier League blocked more passes than Guehi last season, and he is dominant in the air, ranking in the top 15 for total aerial duels won for all centre-backs. Sky Sports is reporting that Liverpool are in talks for the former Chelsea man.

His departure will leave a gaping hole as Chadi Riad is still out injured, leaving only Chris Richards as a senior option available to Glasner as part of his three-man defence to partner Maxence Lacroix.

There are few defenders with the leadership qualities or experience possessed by Guehi at just 25 years old. It is unlikely that Crystal Palace will be able to dip into the market and find a suitable replacement for their captain with just a couple of weeks left in the transfer window.

Defensively, Glasner may need a rethink as he is unlikely to find a replacement with the same attributes to lead a backline that was key in their FA Cup win. Crystal Palace conceded just two goals in their six matches en route to lifting the trophy in May.

World-Class Addition Required

Eberechi Eze is one of the most exciting players to watch on the ball in the Premier League. It has been a key feature at Selhurst Park for the 27-year-old to change games with a moment of magic, and if the player does join Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal, it will be a fair reward for his top-class displays.

Eze scored eight goals and provided the same number of assists in 31 Premier League starts last season. He has regularly produced similar figures since arriving five years ago, and he is an elite player who is capable of starring in any of the top sides in the Premier League or beyond.

Crystal Palace have had Michael Olise before his move to Bayern Munich and Eze as a key part of their recent success; however, it is difficult to envisage any player in the current squad replicating either of these two should the latter depart.

Ismaila Sarr is a different type of attacker, with bags of pace and a major threat in behind. He is a major asset, but there is no player in the squad that can compete with the amount of successful dribbles, efforts on goal or key passes provided by Eze last season.

Only Olise and Wilfried Zaha could provide a similar impact to Eze in attacking areas over the past three campaigns, and it would take a world-class addition to replace the former Queens Park Rangers star. Once again, it is difficult to see Crystal Palace convincing a player of this calibre to move to Selhurst Park this late in the transfer window, with the majority of these elite players at clubs competing in the Champions League.

What Can Crystal Palace Achieve This Campaign?

The Eagles may look to reproduce their previous strategy of recruiting unknown quantities in the hope of them developing into the profile of stars in the mould of Olise and Eze. However, it is unlikely that they will add players of the same quality as the latter and Guehi, meaning this coming season may be a period of consolidation.

The club finished in 11th place in the Premier League last season and is unlikely to compete any higher up the table after a relatively quiet transfer window in terms of incomings. Crystal Palace should target Europe, as they have a real chance to progress deep into the later stages of the UEFA Conference League.

Crystal Palace fans should be revelling in their recent success. However, this appears to come at a cost as they are set to lose the two most important components of their side, resulting in a significant gap in the quality of their starting line-up.

A mid-table finish and a run deep into the latter stages of the Conference League should be seen as a major success. The club have a top-quality manager in the shape of Oliver Glasner, and that should see them through what could have been a difficult campaign.