Leaving this summer 

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Oliver Glasner has put executives at top European clubs on high-alert after confirming that he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season. The 51-year-old’s contract expires in the summer and he’s revealed that he informed the Eagles hierarchy in October that he will seek a new challenge. “I had a meeting in October with Steve Parish,” confirmed Glasner. “We had dinner and a long talk. I told him I will not sign a new contract for Crystal Palace.”

Glasner continued: “We agreed it was best to keep it between us, confidentially, and we did for three months. I told the team today. It’s now important to have clarity. I don’t want to have this question. We had a very busy schedule. We want the same, me and Steve.” It’s a major blow, albeit expected, for Palace and Glasner will depart Selhurst Park as arguably their greatest ever manager. Despite a current nine-game winless run, Glasner has transformed Palace’s fortunes and led them to their first ever major silverware with the FA Cup in May. The German’s stock has skyrocketed during his time in England to build on his success in the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt. Glasner wants a new challenge and we’ve analysed five potential clubs that could offer him that.

Five potential destinations for Oliver Glasner

Manchester United

There will be a vacancy at Old Trafford this summer with Michael Carrick placed in interim charge until the end of the season. Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada are already evaluating potential candidates and Glasner’s name will be on the shortlist. It’s understood that United want Premier League experience and the Palace boss has that but he’s also shown his credentials in European competition. There are drawbacks to Glasner, however, as he’s never managed at a club anywhere near the size of United, where the pressure is daunting, and he’s also very single-minded, which has created issues at previous clubs.

Manchester City

It seems like there’s speculation every summer that Pep Guardiola could leave Manchester City and those rumours have re-emerged recently. It was widely believed that last season would be Guardiola’s last at the Etihad but he penned a new deal until 2027. The legendary Spanish boss didn’t want to taint his legacy by departing after an underwhelming season, where City failed to win their fifth consecutive title. Arsenal are favourites to lift the Premier League trophy this season and that could be decisive over Guardiola’s thinking. Glasner will come under consideration from City chiefs but he will face intense competition with Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany and Enzo Maresca hugely admired.

Borussia Dortmund

Things currently seem perfectly fine at Borussia Dortmund. They’re second in the Bundesliga, set to qualify to the next round of the Champions League and remain on course to finish in the top four in May. However, that’s not to say that Niko Kovac is entirely safe. His Dortmund side aren’t the easiest on the eyes and with a growing list of star players underperforming or looking to head towards the exit doors, the club may be tempted to swap their current head coach for a more enticing one. Whether Glasner would be tempted to return to the Bundesliga after already achieving so much at Eintracht Frankfurt remains to be seen, but Dortmund would probably seriously consider him for next season if he showed any interest in the position.

Juventus

It’s believed that Glasner would prefer to stay in England but if a satisfactory opportunity doesn’t arrive then Italy could beckon. All the leading clubs in Serie A would be interested but most of the big dogs have top managers in place. That could very well change across the next four months with the notoriously unpredictable Antonio Conte at Napoli and the jury still out on Christian Chivu at Inter Milan, but Juventus appears the most likely destination. The Old Lady are desperate for a return to former glories and Glasner would relish the challenge of reviving Italy’s most successful club. Luciano Spalletti has steadied the ship in Turin but he’s only contracted until the end of the season and he’s not expected to remain.

Tottenham Hotspur

As previously mentioned, it’s impossible to predict how things will play out over the remainder of the season but it’s looking increasingly bleak for Thomas Frank. The Danish boss isn’t a popular figure amongst Spurs supporters and he’s failed to replicate his impressive success at Brentford in North London. Tottenham are languishing 14th in the Premier League table and there’s been little, if any, sign of improvement from Ange Postecoglou’s tenure. Glasner would be a leading candidate for Spurs, it would allow him to manage a ‘top six’ Premier League club with a much bigger budget and he wouldn’t even need to move house!