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Crystal Palace are likely to enter the new year with a keen eye on the Premier League table. They sit in the bottom half on 16 points from 17 games but have enjoyed an upturn in form recently after a slow start which saw them in the relegation zone. But there are obvious gaps in their squad which they may turn their attention to in the January transfer window to help manager Oliver Glasner.
Advertisement With injuries also hitting them hard at times, although most of the squad is now fit, they will at least explore possibilities to improve the squad. Here, The Athletic looks at what awaits. What positions will they be looking at in January? Not much has changed here.
Palace remain interested in providing cover and competition for Tyrick Mitchell at left wing-back, with the 25-year-old an ever-present in the Premier League and Carabao Cup so far this season. His work rate is unquestionable and he has developed into a capable wing-back, but even with his impressive fitness record, there is a need to provide him with support and someone to help push him on. Glasner hinted that he would like a new arrival in that position in his press conference before the 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa in November, noting that they were unlikely to strengthen in areas where they have sufficient depth available — such as central midfield, and explicitly mentioned left wing-back as an area where that does not currently exist.
He also said it was “clear we want to add an attacking player” in that same press conference, pointing to the unexpected absence of Matheus Franca through injury as a primary reason for that. Franca is not expected to be available to play until at least February and Palace lack strong options in the No 10 position with Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah struggling to make an impact. Which players do they want? Palace like the 19-year-old Lyon right back Sael Kumbedi and still retain an interest in signing their midfielder Rayan Cherki , even if that is a deal which would require some serious convincing for the highly rated 21-year-old to move to south London.
They have been impressed by winger Ernest Nuamah , who came close to a Premier League move with Fulham in January before staying put in France. But whether their interest becomes more than a passing admiration is another matter. Lyon are owned by Palace general partner John Textor’s Eagle Football vehicle.
Players like Romain Esse at Millwall will also be targets, although their local rivals are not actively seeking to sell the 19-year-old winger. But any possible loan back would not suit Palace either, they will be looking for players to integrate into the system as quickly as possible. The loan market could come into play as well.
Palace currently have two loanees in defender Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea and goalkeeper Matt Turner from Nottingham Forest but if a suitable loan became available it would be relatively cheap and easy to convert Turner’s loan into a permanent move to free up a space. Who will they be looking to sell? There are no plans to let any of their players leave in January and there does not appear to be any significant interest in any case. Marc Guehi was the most likely to leave in the summer and has only 18 months remaining on his contract, but there is no chance Palace would consider a sale in the winter window unless an offer was extraordinary.
That is unlikely to be the case. Advertisement Eberechi Eze might ordinarily have attracted interest but he has been out of form this season and his performances will not have caught the eye of any clubs who might have considered coming in for him. Odsonne Edouard has not impressed on loan at Leicester City , but even if they were to terminate his loan move, he will have played for two clubs this season and would therefore not be eligible to play for anyone else.
Any departure for him would have to be in the summer. Will anyone move out on loan? This depends on who, if anyone, arrives, but any loans would be the young players who have been in Premier League squads this season and have had few opportunities to make senior appearances but who would not benefit from returning to under-21 football. Asher Agbinone is available for loan, with the 18-year-old attacker having made a senior debut in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in October and making another brief late substitute appearance in November’s 2-0 home defeat by Fulham.
He has not featured since. Justin Devenny is more likely to stay with Palace after featuring in seven Premier League games . Glasner does not expect the 18-year-old right wing-back Caleb Kporha to leave.
“He’s 18. He has a lot to learn, but he is on a really good pathway,” Glasner said in his press conference before the 5-1 defeat by Arsenal . “I want the players who are close to the team to stay with us and train with us, to learn from their team-mates in training and learn how we want to play.
“Then, if I think (a player) doesn’t get any minutes, it will be better for him to have a loan. But I think he (Kporha) will get his minutes. It’s better he stays here.
” What moves have they made already? There have not yet been any formal moves for any players. Who will make the key decisions in January? This remains the responsibility of chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman, but Glasner will also have input. Parish has the final say on deals.
Insiders refer to Parish and Freedman having a ‘cold shower moment’ — when a deal doesn’t feel quite right they walk away . What is their PSR position? Palace have no concerns over profit and sustainability rules. What sort of budget do they have? This could be affected by the uncertainty around whether Textor’s Eagle Football sell their shares in Palace or whether there is an investment in Eagle from Sportsbank, one of the groups in discussions with Textor over the ownership situation.
The other group, a U.S.-Saudi Arabian consortium, are still in contention to buy Eagle’s shares directly.
That would not provide funding for January, however. Advertisement It is unlikely that any of the owners will want to provide funding when there is so much uncertainty, and therefore financial backing would in all probability need to come via the club’s existing revenue streams. There will also be a consideration of the club’s form.
If relegation is a fear then that is often a trigger for Palace to spend more notably in January. Their recent upturn in form has eased those concerns for the time being. What is the manager’s priority? Glasner is keen to add players where he does not have that depth — as discussed above, at left wing-back and in the No 10 role in particular.
(Top photos: Getty Images).
