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Crystal Palace have to cash in with FA Cup win before potential summer sales

Crystal Palace have a great chance to win a first ever trophy against Manchester City before the risk of losing stars and their manager this summer

[Eberechi Eze in action for Crystal Palace]

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Eberechi Eze has been one of the stars in Crystal Palace's run to the FA Cup final(Image: Getty Images)

Crystal Palace are 90 Wembley minutes away from the dream of a first major trophy and European football. But win or lose against Manchester City on Saturday, economic reality will not be far behind as rich clubs circle for their best players and their manager this summer

And amid boardroom uncertainty - and the departure of highly-rated sporting director Dougie Freedman - this makes the South London clubs third FA Cup final a rare chance to be seized at the end rather than the beginning of an era.

Palace sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich for 50m last year but held on to their four England stars - Dean Henderson, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze - and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta.

But even with the potential attraction of European football, the South London club have a new main stand to finance and will have to sell again this summer.

Eze has a 67m buyout clause while Guehi, who attracted bids from Newcastle last summer, now has only one year left on his contract and has shown no signs of signing a new deal. Midfield anchor Wharton would improve Liverpool and Manchester City.

Such uncertainty could disrupt a club. But Glasner has maintained the same calm as during the opening eight Premier League games without a win which saw Palace in the bottom three. And the Austrian has even used potential transfers as motivation for his players.

[Adam Wharton has impressed since joining Crystal Palace last year]

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Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton will be targeted by big clubs this summer(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, the Austrian said: There are only three, four, five clubs who dont have to sell players. And we are not one of them. All of these players have contracts. And at the end, it is always a decision that the player and the club has to take.

"No-one gives me the feeling that they are thinking about their future. Because everybody knows the better they perform, the better the offers will be. It is quite easy. Everything they do now for Crystal Palace, will help them maybe go to the biggest clubs. Like it was last year with Michael. But I am not worried about it.

[Oliver Glasner has impressed with Crystal Palace]

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has only one year left on his Selhurst Park contract(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

And last week Glasner added: At the end, the player will have the final decision because if a player says they want to leave, we cant lock them in the dressing room and say you are not allowed to. Its always a decision from the player that the club have to take.

We dont want to sell anyone, but its football, and its a part of the business.

Jason Puncheon, who scored Palaces goal in the 2016 final, identified Wharton as the key player against City.

[BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at American Express Community Stadium on December 4, 2018 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)]

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Jason Puncheon scored for Crystal Palace in their last FA Cup final in 2016

He is a fantastic player, said the head coach of newly-promoted Cypriot side Akritas Chlorakas. I think he has got the top teams in his sights for sure. The reality is that we know the stature of Crystal Palace Football Club. If teams have success, then comes noise from other teams. I think what they have until now is fantastic and it will put the icing on the cake if they go on to win the FA Cup.

Glasner attracted interest from Bayern Munich last summer and an FA Cup win will only increase his profile around Europe with only one year left on his Palace contract. Sky Sports Germany has reported he is on a shortlist for their job along with Cesc Fabregas. Talks have started

I am not in a rush, he insisted. The club is not in a rush. There is more than one year left on the contract.

[DECINES-CHARPIEU, FRANCE - APRIL 10: John Textor, owner of Olympique Lyonnais is seen prior to the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United at OL Stadium on April 10, 2025 in Decines-Charpieu, France. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)]

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American John Textor owns 45% of Crystal Palace(Image: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

We have to avoid losing concentration in the games we have left to play. We have to avoid that. I expect from the players that they give 100% focus on our job now, our challenges and our tasks. I just cant expect things from the players if I am not the role model for it and I dont do the same.

Off the field, American John Textor is attempting to increase his 45% stake in the club but New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is also interested and attended the recent home draw with Nottingham Forest as a guest of co-owner Steve Parish.

Palace lost their first two FA Cup finals to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016. Manchester City are not the force they were in 2025 final. A famous victory could be a fond farewell for some big Palace names.

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