Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen have established a formidable partnership at the heart of the Crystal Palace defence over the past three years.
Their understanding of each other’s game and the way they complement one another has significantly benefited the team since the pair arrived from Chelsea and Lyon respectively 10 days apart in the summer 2021 transfer window. They have excelled and become mainstays of the team; leaders on whom Palace rely.
Yet in the club’s opening game of the 2024-25 season, a 2-1 away defeat against Brentford, their customary performance levels dipped. They were uncharacteristically poor and alongside Chris Richards, the side’s third starting centre-back on Sunday, picked up needless yellow cards while contributing the kind of mistakes that regular observers of their play would not, and did not, expect.
Andersen’s pinpoint long diagonal passes have long been a staple of Palace’s game and provide them with a different option to advance play upfield, even if the 28-year-old Denmark international is capable of running it out of defence too. But he struggled throughout pre-season after returning from Euro 2024 duty and then did so again against Brentford.
There were moments when he simply lacked composure. His booking midway through the first half was a prime example: a rash decision to slide in on Yoane Wissa from behind, taking the Brentford attacker out in the process when the ball was not there to be won. He would have been better holding his position near the halfway line.
That challenge was more akin to his decision-making in the early days under Patrick Vieira in his 2021-22 debut year as he settled into Palace’s side before developing in assuredness over the next two seasons.
Andersen has been excellent since joining from Lyon (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Not that Andersen was alone in finding life difficult against Brentford.
Too often on Sunday, the Palace centre-backs struggled when confronting the speed of the home side’s forward line on counter-attacks, especially when running back towards their own goal. Richards failed to contain Kevin Schade, who had his shirt pulled as he outpaced the United States international, leading to his booking just before the hour.
Guehi, a star for England as they got to the final of the Euros, was hesitant when Bryan Mbeumo cut inside and faced him down, granting the forward too much space as he shot beyond Dean Henderson to put Brentford ahead on 29 minutes. His reckless challenge on Mads Roerslev — although he won the ball, he was over the top of it — in first-half stoppage time brought his caution.
As mitigating circumstances, the trio had played together in a competitive match only once before. And it was also maybe no surprise that Guehi and Andersen were less composed than usual, given there is interest in their services from elsewhere.
Their partnership may be broken up over the next 11 days.
Newcastle United have had four bids for 24-year-old Guehi rejected. The latest of them was worth up to £65million ($84.3m), including add-ons, which would represent a profit of around £47m from the fee paid when he joined from Chelsea.
Andersen is wanted by his former club Fulham, where he spent the 2020-21 season on loan from Lyon before his move to Palace for an initial of €17.5m (£14.9m/$19.4m at the current exchange rates) with €2.5m in potential add-ons.
Both are under contract to summer 2026.
Mbeumo ekes space from Guehi to put Brentford ahead (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Under sporting director Dougie Freedman, Palace have enjoyed considerable success in pinpointing promising talent and persuading them a move to Selhurst Park will benefit their career. But in a summer which has already seen Michael Olise join Bayern Munich, with Palace receiving around £50m for the Frenchman’s services, the loss of another instrumental player — and a fan favourite, as both men are — would be difficult to digest.
But it might be something Palace have to consider.
As stated above, the club’s recruitment model has seen them scout young players of potential and develop them into valuable assets. The next step is to realise a profit through a sale and reinvest the money received. They have to learn to sell players at the right time, and when the interest in them is at its peak.
Guehi’s stock may never be as high as it is now. He has just returned from a tournament with England where he was one of their most impressive performers. Unless Palace can convince him to sign a new contract including a hefty release clause, as they did with Olise a year ago, it is unlikely he will be this valuable again.
Andersen turned 28 in May and, with Fulham having already bid £25million plus a potential £5m more in add-ons, a fee much higher than that may prove to be the best offer he is ever likely to attract. He earns significantly more than his partner Guehi. This may be the optimum time to sell and secure a younger option — perhaps one more suited to new manager Oliver Glasner’s preferred style of football.
Wolfsburg’s 24-year-old Maxence Lacroix may fit the bill, and played for Glasner at that German club in the 2020-21 season. So, too, might their fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou, who is 23.
Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, is the only high-profile departure from Palace this summer… so far (Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Yet there is a risk in selling either, or both, defenders.
Should they fail to tie Guehi down on a new contract, his value will drop significantly over the next 12 months as he approaches his current deal’s final season. Injury and form could have an effect even if he does agree to fresh terms.
Both he and Andersen are leaders whose voices carry weight in the dressing room. Guehi captained the side on Sunday, while Andersen has also worn the armband — he was the player who lifted the Stateside Cup on the club’s successful pre-season tour of the United States this summer.
Furthermore, whoever is signed to replace either or both will have to settle into new surroundings in south London. There is no guarantee that will be a quick process.
These are all aspects for Freedman, Glasner and the Palace hierarchy to ponder. It will all come down to their judgement, and the players’ willingness to move on.
Whatever decision is taken, there will be uncertainty. The Palace model is inherently risky — even if it comes with potentially great rewards.
GO DEEPER
It will take time for Palace to adapt to life without Olise – but Glasner must get it right
(Top photo: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
