Another One Slips: Palace’s Striker Hunt Stutters Yet Again
Crystal Palace’s January striker saga has turned into a soap opera, and the latest episode isn’t a happy one. The Eagles’ move for Angers teenager Sidiki Cherif has hit the skids, while the Jorgen Strand Larsen pursuit has cooled just when it looked close. Meanwhile, Evann Guessand could yet arrive to give Oliver Glasner a fresh option, as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future teeters on a knife edge.
Cherif snub leaves Palace short again
Per journalist Ed Aarons, Cherif is now unlikely to head to Selhurst Park after talks with Angers failed to yield an agreement on the fee. Palace have already had two bids rejected and, as things stand, are not expected to return with a third despite the clear need for a centre-forward. The plot thickens with Fenerbahce understood to be in the mix, having held discussions over the 19-year-old this month.
Strand Larsen deal cools and the knock-on for Mateta
Palace were thought to be closing in on Jorgen Strand Larsen on Friday, only to signal their intent to walk away from the terms on offer. If that move finally collapses, there’s an obvious domino effect: Mateta, who has informed the club he’d like to go before Monday’s deadline, may have to stay put. There’s even chatter from Alasdair Gold about Tottenham keeping an eye on the situation, which only adds spice to an already fraught finale.
Guessand closing in: loan now, obligation later
There is at least one beam of light. Palace are nearing their second signing of the window with an agreement in place for Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand to arrive on loan, with an obligation to buy set at around £28m if agreed milestones are met. The Ivory Coast international has travelled to London to sort the final details, and a four-year deal is understood to be ready should the switch become permanent.
Guessand is raw at Premier League level — no league goals in 13 appearances so far this season — but he has shown flashes in Europe with two strikes in the Europa League. If Palace can feed him properly, he offers mobility and a willing runner to stretch defences, something they’ve lacked when chasing games.
The wider window: one in, one out, and a sticky run
The window has been messy. At the time of writing, Brennan Johnson is referenced as the club’s only incoming this month for a reported club-record £35m, while reports also claim captain Marc Guehi has departed for Manchester City with no replacement yet secured. Combined with a barren league run — eight without a win, 15th in the table and eight points clear of the drop — it leaves Glasner juggling short-term needs with longer-term build.
Pundit’s verdict: time to stop dithering
This is the crunch point. Palace need presence up top and clarity around Mateta. If the Cherif chase is dead and Strand Larsen’s numbers don’t stack up, fine — but then you must pivot decisively. Guessand could be smart business if the structure is right, yet he can’t carry the load alone from day one. Get bodies in, set the tone, and avoid sleepwalking into a spring relegation scrap.
For supporters trying to read the market tea leaves — and for those comparing odds across the best betting sites — brace for a frantic finish. Palace’s next 48 hours will define the mood at Selhurst Park for the run-in.
