Crystal Palace’s transfer window reviewed: Will new arrivals fill the Olise void? (2024)

After a transfer window that threatened to leave them short and weak and a final seven days when interest in key players unsettled them — “hits to the shield” is how manager Oliver Glasner described it — Crystal Palace were tenacious in earning a draw with Chelsea.

But a look at their substitute bench should be a concern. Four outfield academy players were named, with Jefferson Lerma having injured his toe last week and defender Chadi Riad out with a knee injury sustained in the 4-0 win over Norwich City in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie. There are three new outfield signings to add to the squad, but Palace still appear short in attacking areas after the loss of Michael Olise.

Yet Glasner suggested he was “very happy” with his squad. Marc Guehi, aside from one charging run deep into the Chelsea half which played a part in conceding the opening goal, was excellent. Eberechi Eze came to life in the second half, though a lot of pressure sits on his shoulders.

“It was very important for us (to keep players),” Glasner said. “We were here with 14 outfield players because of injuries and the new players couldn’t play today. I’m very happy that Marc and Ebs are still with us. It’s great the club and our owners decided to keep them and they didn’t push to leave us.”

This is how Palace’s transfer window turned out…

Was this window a success or a failure?

This can only really be judged later in the season. The departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich was not completely out of the blue, but it still stung and at one stage the window was looking significantly worse until four deadline-day arrivals strengthened the squad. After losing Olise, keeping Eze was vital.

It is only in defence where they are significantly stronger than before, with the additions of Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg for an initial €18m (£15.2m; $23.6m) and Trevoh Chalobah on a season-long loan from Chelsea. Riad is inexperienced at 21 with only a season of top-flight football in Spain and he will take time to adapt. His injury in the 4-0 Carabao Cup win is a concern.

The break-up of Palace’s successful centre-back partnership of three years in Guehi and Joachim Andersen, who joined Fulham for an initial £25m, weakened them, but those three new defenders add quality and depth. Keeping hold of Guehi, despite Newcastle’s multiple offers, was a major positive.

The window began well, with Daichi Kamada arriving on a free transfer from Lazio after his contract expired to add an option in the No 10 role and Riad from Real Betis at centre-back for around £15million.

But Olise’s departure has left a hole. Glasner sought to replicate his impact with multiple players who offer different profiles and the signing of Ismaila Sarr and Kamada has started to fill that void.

Sarr joining from Marseille for £12.6m is smart business. Eddie Nketiah’s arrival from Arsenal for an initial £25m adds another option, but he will surely start as a striker rather than a No 10. It does, though, give an option to start two players up front with Eze behind. Variation is what Glasner is looking for.

Palace are weakened in both quality and depth. Their two new No 10s combined are not an improvement on Olise. Jordan Ayew joined Leicester City while Sam Johnstone moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £10m, with Nottingham Forest’s Matt Turner coming in on a season-long loan, leaving goalkeeping options noticeably worse.

Ayew did not suit the system and the departure of Odsonne Edouard on loan to Leicester is no great loss, but Palace’s lack of options in attack is not ideal. There is also no cover for Daniel Munoz or Tyrick Mitchell.

How much did they spend and how much did they bring in?

Palace’s outlay was £67.5m on five permanent signings. The four players they sold brought in around £90m, leaving them with a profit of about £23.5m.

Who seems like the standout signing?

None of these arrivals look like they are going to be able to have the impact Olise had last season, but if there is anyone they will be looking at to push them up the Premier League table it is Nketiah. Given his fee and wages, there will be expectation on his shoulders. If he can handle that and score regularly, then he will be the standout signing, but for now, none of the new arrivals meet that threshold; they are all solid but unspectacular.

Will any of the exits hurt Palace?

The obvious one is Olise. His departure leaves Palace without an obvious match-winner and puts pressure on Eze. Olise’s quality and ability to make things happen will be sorely missed. Even with the new attacking arrivals, replicating his ability to beat a defender and provide dangerous crosses or score outstanding goals is going to be a challenge for Palace.

Are there any obvious gaps in the team?

Before the late arrivals, the defence looked to be the weakest part of the squad. They already needed to sign another centre-back, but after selling Andersen to Fulham, their options were limited. Instead, it is their attack, with three No 10s plus an untested and often injured youngster in 20-year-old Matheus Franca, who compete for two places. That is where the most notable gap is.

What should they be planning for January?

Glasner said Palace had not given up on adding cover and competition for Mitchell, but no one arrived to do so. Adding someone in that position should be on their to-do list. January is never a good window to make significant additions, so adding two No 10s would seem greedy and unlikely, but they need another to compete with Eze, Kamada and Sarr.

What is their strongest XI now the window is shut?

Henderson; Munoz, Chalobah, Guehi, Lacroix, Mitchell; Wharton, Doucoure; Sarr, Eze; Nketiah

The full list of ins and outs

IN:

Chadi Riad, Real Betis (£15m)
Daichi Kamada, Lazio (Free)
Ismaila Sarr, Marseille (£12.6m)
Maxence Lacroix, Wolfsburg (£15.2m)
Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal (£25m)
Matt Turner, Nottingham Forest (loan)
Trevoh Chalobah, Chelsea (loan)

OUT:

Michael Olise, Bayern Munich (£50m after other parties receive their share)
Joachim Andersen, Fulham (£25m)
Jordan Ayew, Leicester (£5m)
Sam Johnstone, Wolves (£10m)
Odsonne Edouard, Leicester (loan)
Joe Whitworth, Exeter City (loan)
Malcolm Ebiowei, Oxford United (loan)
David Ozoh, Derby County (loan)
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Sheffield United (loan)
Naouirou Ahamada, Stade Rennais (loan)

(Top photos: Sebastian Frej/MB Media and Ryan Pierse, both via Getty Images)

Matt Woosnam is the Crystal Palace writer for The Athletic UK. Matt previously spent several years covering Palace matches for the South London Press and contributing to other publications as a freelance writer. He was also the online editor of Palace fanzine Five Year Plan and has written columns for local papers in South London. Follow Matt on Twitter @MattWoosie