Oliver Glasner is hopeful Eberechi Eze will not leave Crystal Palace for Arsenal this summer, as he took aim at the club’s lack of transfer activity.
This summer is a very important transfer window for Palace as they look to build upon their FA Cup triumph and record Premier League points tally.
So far however, it has been a little underwhelming with back-up goalkeeper Walter Benitez (free) and left-back Borna Sosa (£3million) the only arrivals.
Moreover, head coach Glasner faces the prospect of losing several key players before deadline day, most notably England duo Eze and Marc Guehi.
Eze is of great interest to Arsenal and, if reports are to believed, would be keen on moving to the club that released him as a 13-year-old.
It is said the Gunners don’t want to pay his full release clause worth £68m but have not ruled out a move for the attacking midfielder who recorded 25 goal contributions last season.
Centre-back and captain Guehi has entered the last year of his contract and is being tracked by Liverpool and Tottenham.
Following the FA Cup victory in May, Glasner said he was given assurances by Palace’s hierarchy that they would get their transfer business done early but that has not materialised.
Palace are currently on a pre-season tour of Austria, where they played Mainz on Tuesday.
Speaking to local newspaper Kronen Zeitung, the head coach has now vented his frustration: ‘Even though all the players are still here, we haven’t made the most of the transfer window so far.
‘I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year.
‘As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don’t lose any more. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible.’
While last season ended brilliantly for the Eagles, it started terribly with the south London club winless in their opening eight league games and winning just one of their first 13 before their form turned around.
In addition to Eze and Guehi, there has also been much interest in striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defensive midfielder Adam Wharton, though the latter wishes to stay at Selhurst Park this coming season.
Palace’s transfer activity has been compromised somewhat as they still do not know what European competition they will playing in in 2025/26.
The FA Cup victory qualified them for the Europa League but UEFA have controversially demoted them to the Conference League for a breach of Multi-Club Ownership rules.
Palace are challenging the demotion at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but may not learn their fate until August 11, just days before the new Premier League campaign begins.
Whatever happens, the Eagles will kick-off the new season against Liverpool in the Community Shield on August 10, before taking on Chelsea in their opening league game on August 17.
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