Premier League 2025-26 Preview No 8: Crystal Palace

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 14th (NB: this is not needfully Ed Aarons’ prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 12th

Prospects

Crystal Palace’s accomplishment of winning nan club’s first awesome trophy by beating Manchester City successful nan FA Cup final should person made it a summertime to savour for supporters. Instead, it has been spent nervously awaiting news complete which European title nan squad will play successful aft Uefa yet said Palace had breached its rules connected multi-club ownership.

Palace’s destiny is still yet to beryllium resolved arsenic they prepare for their appeal against demotion to nan Conference League astatine nan tribunal of arbitration for sport, pinch a determination expected connected Monday. At slightest that will yet supply clarity arsenic nan nine effort to build connected past season’s success, though a deficiency of signings is an denotation of nan effect specified uncertainty has had connected their planning. The Argentina goalkeeper Walter Benítez and Croatia defender Borna Sosa person been nan only additions to Oliver Glasner’s squad and nan Austrian head admitted during Palace’s pre-season circuit past week that he was “promised more”.

With doubts complete nan futures of nan skipper Marc Guéhi, who has entered nan last 12 months of his statement and is wanted by Liverpool, and nan Arsenal target Eberechi Eze, nan chair Steve Parish faces different testing period arsenic Palace effort to support clasp of their astir important players. He has yet to switch Dougie Freedman aft nan sporting director’s astonishment departure for Saudi Arabia and it looks arsenic if Palace will beryllium forced to repetition past year’s flurry of precocious transportation business that brought 4 signings connected deadline day.

Glasner’s broadside grounded to triumph until their ninth lucifer past play – a nightmare commencement that meant moreover a spectacular turnaround aft November that culminated successful their FA Cup triumph could not rather clinch a top-half finish. Palace person shown they are tin of achieving that, though their chances will beryllium analyzable by being successful Europe.

The manager

Glasner is not nan benignant of head who hangs astir if he doesn’t deliberation a nine lucifer his ambition. The softly spoken 50-year-old pinch nan Austrian balanced of an MBA successful business management has yet to recommence talks complete extending a statement that has little than a twelvemonth remaining and has made clear that he wanted much finance successful a squad that has thrived since he was appointed successful February 2024. If Palace are to person immoderate chance of avoiding becoming what Glasner described arsenic “a one-hit wonder” past nan nine must do each they tin to support him happy.

Crystal Palace fans clasp up a cutout of their head Oliver Glasner. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Off-field picture

Woody Johnson has replaced his chap American John Textor arsenic nan club’s biggest shareholder aft Palace’s issues pinch Uefa, and nan dream is that nan New York Jets proprietor tin supply immoderate stableness successful nan boardroom fixed nan turmoil of caller months. It remains to beryllium seen whether Johnson will beryllium capable to stump up nan other backing required for nan caller Main Stand that immoderate insiders fearfulness could costs up to £250m, though nan 78-year-old who antecedently tried to bargain Chelsea is estimated to person a £3.5bn fortune. His narration pinch Parish, who saved his boyhood nine from management successful 2010 and has established them arsenic Premier League regulars, will beryllium important to whether Palace tin proceed to progress.

Star signing

Snapping up a 27-year-old Croatia world for £3m is beautiful overmuch unheard of these days but Palace will beryllium hoping that Sosa tin travel successful nan footsteps of Daniel Muñoz and return nan Premier League by storm. The Colombian wing-back has been a revelation down nan correct since joining from Genk for £6.8m past twelvemonth and Glasner has wanted title for Tyrick Mitchell connected nan near for immoderate time. Sosa has plentifulness of acquisition having played successful Germany, Italy, nan Netherlands and successful his homeland, arsenic good arsenic being portion of nan Croatia squad that vanished 3rd astatine nan 2022 World Cup successful Qatar.

Stepping up

Romain Esse scored his first Premier League extremity 25 seconds into his debut successful January, a mates of weeks aft his move from southbound London rivals Millwall for an first £12m. Yet nan 20-year-old guardant was hauled disconnected by Glasner successful nan last crippled of nan play against Liverpool amid suggestions that he was not playing “100% for nan team”. “He knows why, that’s enough,” said nan Palace manager. Esse should get his opportunities this play fixed nan other games successful Europe and will beryllium eager to beryllium he tin unrecorded up to nan imaginable he showed successful nan Championship.

A large play for …

Chadi Riad didn’t person overmuch luck during his first play successful southbound London. The Morocco defender, who came done Barcelona’s academy and was signed from Real Betis for astir £14m, damaged knee ligaments 10 minutes into his 2nd quality for Palace successful a Carabao Cup necktie against Norwich successful August. He returned successful January but was past ruled retired for nan remainder of nan play aft sustaining different superior knee wounded successful training. Riad’s expected return successful nan adjacent early will beryllium astir invited successful an area of nan squad wherever Palace person been stretched. It will beryllium a prize excessively for Palace if, arsenic expected, nan Mali midfielder Cheick Doucouré is backmost soon, aft he was sidelined for astir of past season.