Oliver Glasner needs new Crystal Palace recruits and the club must be realistic to get business done in January.
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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has made it clear that the club must recruit new players in January if they are to be able to compete over the back end of the season.
The Austrian is currently set to leave Selhurst Park at the end of the campaign with no new deal agreed but, should the club show support by splashing the cash next month, Glasner’s outlook may change.
There are several key areas for the club to prioritise recruitment but the number one is an injection of creativity. Glasner has been outspoken about the loss of vision and electricity up front since Eberechi Eze joined London rivals Arsenal.
Crystal Palace face competition for £35 million Tottenham Hotspur transfer
There’s been no shortage of rumours linking players with a move to Selhurst Park. Last week, a £35 million move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Brennan Johnson was touted as a likely outcome.
The Welshman is struggling for a place in the starting XI under Thomas Frank after the arrival of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham in the summer. With Spurs also wanting to spend, a space could be freed up by allowing Johnson to leave.
However, Crystal Palace are not alone in monitoring Johnson. AFC Bournemouth, who are set to lose Antoine Semenyo thanks to his £60 million release clause, have been linked and so too have Aston Villa.
Aston Villa have made themselves outside title contenders but are looking for a new wide player. The Midlands outfit have Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho on loan at the moment but those two players have struggled for impact under Unai Emery and could see their loan stays cut short.
It’s fair to suggest that Crystal Palace could find themselves third in queue for the Johnson deal in the New Year. Aston Villa offer the chance of a title race and Champions League football while Bournemouth hold a bargaining power given that Spurs are interested in Semenyo.
Aston Villa ‘flop’ could enjoy Selhurst Park rebirth
The Eagles cannot afford to become embroiled in a transfer saga, only to lose and once again fail to recruit. A more level-headed approach is needed and Crystal Palace could do worse than looking at one of those Villa stars set for departure in Sancho.
The 25-year-old is still on the books at Manchester United but faces no way into Ruben Amorim’s side. The forward has played just 127 minutes in the top flight this season and the Red Devils would surely look to loan Sancho back out should he return in January.
The former Borussia Dortmund man may have flopped at Villa Park but does have the credentials to slot into Oliver Glasner’s side well. He picked up five goals and 10 assists across all competitions on loan at Chelsea last season, helping the team to a Europa Conference League win and scoring in the final.
Speaking after that win over Real Betis in the final, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Sancho and said: “We are going to sit with the club and decide what happens for next year. If we finish fourth it is also because of Jadon, if we win tonight it is also because of Jadon.”
There’s certainly a player in Jadon Sancho and one who could thrive with regular minutes and the confidence of being a bigger fish in a smaller pond at Crystal Palace. A swift move to offer the winger a fresh loan move could be a more fruitful use of time than what appears to be a complicated Johnson pursuit.
In other news, Liam Rosenior has already told Crystal Palace stance on Premier League job.