The Eagles rejected offers for defender Guehi from Newcastle United in January – the last of which was worth £65m – in the hope the defender would sign a new deal in south London.

But the England international has now entered the final 12 months of his deal at Selhurst Park, and appears no closer to extending his contract.

Guehi is said to be open to remaining with the club until 2026, at which point he can leave on a free transfer.

But Parish says the club would reluctantly prefer to cash in on Guehi this summer.

“We’d have to do that, of course,” said Parish.

“For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it’s a problem for us unfortunately.

“Joachim [Andersen] went [to Fulham last summer] and we couldn’t afford to lose both.

“We then had another bid [for Guehi] in January but that was a different situation.

“We’ll just have to see what happens. But, you know, it needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”

Liverpool retain an interest in Guehi but it remains to be seen whether Arne Slot’s side will spend heavily on a player they could acquire for free in 2026.

Palace are believed to want around £40m for Guehi, but Liverpool want to pay less than that figure.

The Reds have already spent around £270m this summer, though they’ve recouped around £170m through player sales.

Parish’s comments came after Palace beat Liverpool in the Community Shield to win their second piece of silverware under manager Oliver Glasner.

Glasner has been critical of the club’s lack of transfer activity this summer, with Palace making just two first-team signings following the arrivals of Argentina goalkeeper Walter Benitez from PSV Eindhoven and Croatia defender Borna Sosa from Ajax.

“It’s difficult. We have an outstanding 15 or 16 players, trying to get that level of quality in is hard. The prices – at the end of the day we’re Crystal Palace,” said Parish.

“The money at every football club is finite at some point. We will do what we can, try and help where we can. We all want to be better at football and we will try and do what we can.”

Ayew has signed a two-year contract with the Foxes for an initial fee of £5 million, with the potential to rise to £7.5 million based on his performance.

Parish praised Ayew’s commitment and selflessness during his time at Crystal Palace, acknowledging the impact he made both on and off the field.

He expressed his appreciation for Ayew’s contributions and wished him success in his new endeavour.

“Jordan has been exceptional in his service to Crystal Palace, showing not only his skill with goals and assists but also his dedication, all-round play, and willingness to go above and beyond for the team. He has set a fantastic example for his teammates, both young and old,” Parish said on the club’s website.

“We wish him all the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his career. He will always be welcome back at Selhurst Park,” he added.

The 32-year-old striker will bring valuable experience to Steve Cooper’s Leicester City squad, joining Jamie Vardy as they prepare for their upcoming match against Fulham this Saturday.

Ayew initially joined Crystal Palace on loan from Swansea City in August 2018 before making the move permanent the following summer. He quickly became a fan favorite, winning both the Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards in the 2018/19 season. His stunning solo goal against West Ham United earned him the Goal of the Season award the following year.

In the 2022/23 season, Ayew was a consistent presence for the Eagles, playing in all 41 of their competitive matches. He celebrated his 200th game for the club in style, scoring and assisting in a 3-0 victory over Burnley at Selhurst Park in February.

Ayew leaves Crystal Palace with a legacy of 212 appearances, 23 goals, and 22 assists, along with a special place in the hearts of the club’s supporters.