By Bradley Shahenza
Crystal Palace have never had it so good.
Social media has been awash with Eagles fans posting in disbelief at the club embarking on their first European campaign – starting with Thursday’s Conference League opener against Dynamo Kyiv in Poland.
Palace are riding on the crest of a wave following last season’s historic FA Cup success, their triumphant return to Wembley in August to lift the Community Shield by defeating Liverpool, and an unbeaten start that has Palace third in the Premier League.
Yet, amid the giddiness, uncertainty is on the horizon.
Captain Marc Guehi has nine months left on his contract and, unless there is an unexpected turn of events, the England centre-back will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season.
Adam Wharton, their exceptional playmaker, is also being courted by European football’s elite clubs.
Then, of course, there is manager Oliver Glasner – the mastermind of the club’s compelling transformation.
Like Guehi, the Austrian’s contract expires at the end of the season when, as things stand, he will depart.
Glasner’s remarkable story – from the brink of death after a brain haemorrhage aged 37 while playing for SV Ried, to his rise as one of European football’s most respected coaches – is well told.
Emergency surgery saved his life, but retirement as a player followed on medical advice.
It is ironic then that Glasner is the man who has breathed life into a football club that appeared content with simple survival.
And it is for that reason the 51-year-old’s uncertain future at Palace lays so heavily.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Glasner was offered a new contract earlier this summer, but has yet to put pen to paper on an extension.
Well-placed insiders claim the Austrian preferred to wait until the end of the transfer window before making a decision – a choice motivated by his inclination to see how committed the club were to strengthening the squad.
As the weeks progressed, Glasner was openly critical of how Palace operated in a summer in which the club made a profit of £16.3m.
Of Palace’s five new signings, only Yeremy Pino has started a Premier League game so far.
And then there was the saga of them being demoted from the Europa League by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
With all that in mind, it is understandable Glasner has, at best, shown a reluctance to commit.
So that begs the question – could he still be persuaded to stay in the future?
That prospect isn’t being completely discounted, although the initial indications aren’t entirely positive.
Sources close to Palace claim the chances of Glasner staying are remote, that the perceived transfer inactivity over the summer was taken as a sign that he and the club are not aligned in terms of their ambitions.
That’s not to say the Eagles will give up trying to convince him to continue.
If Palace were to provide the former Eintracht Frankfurt coach with certain guarantees and control over transfer operations, that may be enough of an incentive for the Austrian to – at the very least – have discussions over the future.
With that said, though, it has been pointed out to BBC Sport it was Glasner who effectively vetoed Guehi’s move to Liverpool on deadline day, despite both clubs agreeing a fee. So, in essence, he already has a significant grip on transfer matters.
Interestingly, it is understood former Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs has now formally started work at Selhurst Park, replacing the departed Dougie Freedman, although Palace are yet to officially announce their new executive’s arrival.
Hobbs, you’d imagine, has his own ideas with regards to the club’s future recruitment plans and it remains to be seen whether that synergises with Glasner’s views.
It will also be interesting to see how Palace intend to resolve the issues surrounding Guehi and Wharton in the coming months.
With Guehi, 25, expected to leave on a free, a new central defender will need to be signed without the financial benefit of an incoming transfer fee.
In terms of Wharton, the club are open to extending the 21-year-old’s deal, which expires in 2029.
The insertion of a release clause, which would likely run beyond the £75m mark, could be beneficial to all parties if an agreement over a new deal is possible.
In terms of future midfield additions, it is understood Palace have an interest in AZ Alkmaar’s 19-year-old Dutchman Kees Smit.
You wonder, though, how Glasner would feel about continuing without Guehi and possibly Wharton, having already seen Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze depart?
What is clear is his stock is at an all-time high. Bigger clubs are certainly taking notice.
Multiple sources have told BBC Sport Glasner would be on a list of candidates to replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, although Old Trafford insiders insist they remain in support of their under-pressure manager and no candidate shortlists have been compiled.
Having tried and failed to appoint Glasner in the summer of 2024, Bayern Munich are also keeping a watchful eye, but there is no hint of Vincent Kompany being under scrutiny.
It has also been pointed out to BBC Sport that, while Glasner is viewed as one of the best out-of-possession coaches in Europe, it would be intriguing to see how he would set up a team expected to dominate the ball.
As enticing as managing a top club may be, the grass isn’t always greener.
He has built something special at Selhurst Park and appears to have an affinity with his players, while the supporters adore him.
What if Palace, somehow, qualify for the Champions League. Would that be a factor in his decision?
Glasner is an intelligent guy and will know that dynamic isn’t easily nurtured.
Nevertheless, Palace know the time will eventually come for Glasner to depart for a bigger side – they just hope they can somehow persuade him to put off the inevitable for as long as possible.
