Crystal Palace’s brilliant end-of-season turnaround under Oliver Glasner has increased optimism around Selhurst Park ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Premier League Season Preview 2024/25 – Crystal Palace
Last season: 10th
Title odds: 250/1
TFF prediction: 10th
Transfers
In: Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada, Ismailla Sarr, Jemiah Umolu.
Out: Michael Olise, Malachi Boateng, James Tomkins, Jairo Riedewald, Nathan Ferguson.
Optimism is high at Crystal Palace after an immediate impact from Oliver Glasner last season. Appointed to replace Roy Hodgson, the former Eintracht Frankfurt head coach’s impact was felt across the run-in as the Eagles won six of their last seven to secure a top-half finish.
Predicable interest in the club’s top talent has arrived with Michael Olise heading to Bayern Munich in a £50.8m deal, while Newcastle have made an approach to sign Marc Guehi following the defender’s exploits with England over the summer.
Clubs are also circling for Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the latter exploding in output last season with 16 league goals before impressing for France at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
First start at Selhurst, first goal.
Love it, Daichi 🇯🇵#CPFC pic.twitter.com/rr81qfBYMh
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 11, 2024
Glasner will be desperate to hold onto the core of his side and Palace have recruited well. Ismaila Sarr has been a long-standing target for the South Londoners and returns to the Premier League after a spell at Marseille, with the winger arriving as Olise’s replacement. Though different in style, the Senegalese speedster will be a real weapon to Palace, while the returning Cheick Doucouré can provide the perfect foundation in midfield alongside rising star Adam Wharton.
Elsewhere, Glasner has reunited with former favourite Daichi Kamada. An integral part of the Austrian’s success at Frankfurt, the Japan international joins on a free transfer from Lazio. If the 28-year-old can rediscover his Bundesliga form, where he returned nine goals and six assists in 2022/23, he will be a real coup.
Key Player: Eberechi Eze
The departure of Michael Olise will add increased expectation on the shoulders of Eberechi Eze, provided Palace can fight off the interest in his services this summer. After spending the summer with England at Euro 2024, the 26-year-old will feel he is of the level to change games on a consistent basis.
Eze returned 11 goals and four assists in 27 league appearances last season and there’s confidence that he can improve on those numbers. While new signing Ismaila Sarr adds threat with his speed, few in Glasner’s squad can unlock the doors of defences like Eze.
Ebs 😍#CPFC pic.twitter.com/jrX3iWz9LP
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 11, 2024
One to watch: Adam Wharton
A whirlwind six months in a Crystal Palace shirt saw Adam Wharton make his England debut and travel with Gareth Southgate’s squad to Euro 2024. Though he failed to make an appearance, the experience will have greatly benefitted the midfielder who will have set his sights on a long-term role in the national set-up.
With poise in possession, intelligent positioning and forward-thinking distribution, Wharton took to Premier League football with ease after swapping a Championship relegation battle at Blackburn for the top division in January. A full season at those levels will place Wharton in the thoughts of England’s elite.
