Despite winning the FA Cup and securing European football last season, the summer could be a defining moment for Crystal Palace and owner Steve Parish.
Current manager Oliver Glasner has announced that he will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season, with his contract set to expire after two and a half years in charge.
There is no doubt that the Austrian will be forever etched in the history of the Eagles after the FA Cup victory, but it is important that the board identify the right person to take the club forward.
One of the reasons that led him to leave was his criticism of the leadership for their decision to sell key players and failure to fill their vacancies.
However, the January window was a time when the elite put their money where their mouth was, and spent a pretty penny on the new arrivals.
Interplay between Johnson and Strand Larsen
When the winter window opened, Palace secured the signature of midfielder Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur – forking out £35m for his services.
Such a price was a record for the club, which undoubtedly placed high expectations on the Welshman to deliver the goods in front of the goal in South London.
However, the 24-year-old has failed to score in his first ten league games for the Eagles, his only assist coming in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite Johnson’s arrival in the winter, the manager also broke their transfer record for the same period, after spending £44m to sign striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen.
The Norwegian has been tasked with leading Glasner’s side in recent weeks – a role he has been able to fulfill since arriving in January.
He has registered three goals and one assist in his first seven outings so far, and the former Wolves star is already proving very good value for money.
The palace star is now worth more than Strand Larsen
Alongside record-breaking transfers, Palace have also carried out shrewd business in the market, as seen in the £20m deal to sign Adam Wharton in January 2024.
The midfielder has played 81 games for the Eagles in all competitions, finishing as one of the team’s key players.
The 22-year-old currently has five assists in the Premier League this season – the highest of any player at the club – which has cemented his place in the England national team.
Due to his recent form, he has been tipped for a hefty fee, which could make him the latest player to leave Selhurst Park for less money.
However, despite his recent form in England’s top flight, he is still not the most important member of the team, with striker Jeremy Pino currently occupying that spot.
The Spaniard, who joined from Villarreal for £20m last summer, has already cemented his place in the starting 11 over the past few months.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has made 26 Premier League appearances so far, registering a combined three goals and assists in that time.
He also registered six goals in other competitions, including the UEFA Conference League, helping the Eagles reach the last 16 of the competition.
Pino’s basic stats in England’s top flight also highlight his abilities, many of which make him a key player in Glasner’s squad between 2025/26.
|
Yeremy Pino – PL statistics (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics (90 percentile) |
Mathematics |
|
Games played |
26 |
|
Terms & Conditions |
4 |
|
Pass accuracy |
75% |
|
Opportunities are created |
2.1 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
0.5 |
|
Dribbles are finished |
43% |
|
Duels won |
4.5 |
|
A gun was taken |
1.9 |
He created 2.1 of 90 chances this season, with 0.5 of them being big chances – putting him in the top 7% of all players in this category.
Other stats, such as 43% dribble completion and 1.9 shots per 90, also show his overall quality in offensive areas, which has contributed to his market value.
Pino is now valued at a staggering £61m by the CIES Football Observatory, a figure that is already triple the fee paid for his summer signing.
The aforementioned valuation is also higher than Strand Larsen, who is currently valued at just £41m despite his £44m move to South London in January.
The Spaniard has exceeded expectations at Selhurst Park since his arrival, and Pino is just one example of the club’s impressive work in the transfer market.
His huge increase in value certainly bodes well for the club, with officials already finalizing a deal for the star who could leave the pen in the future.
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