MARC GUEHI could still play in the FA Cup again this season despite being DUMPED out with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The cup holders were shocked by sixth-tier Macclesfield FC in one of the biggest upsets in competition history.
Guehi, the Palace captain, was lifting the trophy in May at Wembley but had to put up with the embarrassment of the remarkable 2-1 defeat at Moss Rose.
However, that is not the end of his FA Cup journey this year if he gets a desired transfer.
The England centre-back is attracting immense interest in the January window with Manchester City and Arsenal among those keen to buy him.
Having come close to joining Liverpool last summer, Guehi’s contract runs out at the end of June, when he will be available for free.
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Should one of the Premier League’s big boys poach him before the end of the month, Guehi would be able to play in the FA Cup again.
In a change to normal cup-tie rules made for this season, players can appear for more than one side, as long as it isn’t in the same round.
Given the lack of replays now, that additional point is less impactful and will not change Guehi’s situation.
FA legislation says: “Save that a Player that has played for one Club in the Qualifying Competition and/or the Competition Proper may play for a maximum of one other Club in the Competition Proper (but may only play for a maximum of one Club in any given round of the Competition).”
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It is the same rule which will allow Antoine Semenyo to feature for City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after already appearing for Bournemouth earlier on in the campaign.
Guehi went over to the disappointed and angry Palace fans at full-time, talking to some of them in the stands.
Oliver Glasner’s side were beaten by goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in Cheshire.
Yeremy Pino got a late goal for Palace to make Wayne Rooney’s brother John, the Macclesfield manager, nervous.
The Silkmen hung on to produce the result of a lifetime.