SITTING just five points above the relegation zone after 20 games, Crystal Palace are at something of a crossroads this month.
A run of just one win from their first 13 Premier League games left boss Oliver Glasner under pressure.
PACrystal Palace’s season is not going as hoped after an awful start to the campaign[/caption]
AFPOliver Glasner will want to strengthen – but he’s out threat of having his team weakened[/caption]
But the Eagles have found their feet again, taking points from Tottenham, Manchester City, Newcastle, Aston Villa and, most recently, Chelsea.
But with Palace 15th and with just four victories all season – a 20 per cent win rate – they face a critical few weeks.
Can they strengthen in the transfer market? Or will they be ransacked of their top stars?
SunSport take a look at just why Crystal Palace are facing a potentially make-or-break month.
What do Crystal Palace need?
Glasner has made it clear that he wants two players this month in two positions.
Crystal Palace endured a difficult start to the season following their superb finish to last term under the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager.
Injuries to a number of key players, including Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze at times this season have also hampered progress.
The Austrian wants to add a winger in order to add some depth to their forward line with Brazilian Matheus Franca also injured.
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Eddie Nketiah was signed in the summer and has been used across the front three but is yet to get going in South London.
Palace are also in the market for a left-back this month as they look to find some cover for Tyrick Mitchell.
Mitchell remains the first-choice at Selhurst Park but Glasner has no senior cover at left-back.
Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf has been targeted to add some depth and challenge for a starting spot.
Who is the perfect buy?
Palace have already made it clear they want to sign Ben Doak – on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool – this month.
The Eagles have seen a £15million bid knocked back by the Anfield club, who are holding out for up to £30m.
It is hard to see Palace matching that, unless Marc Guehi ends up leaving for a big fee and the club have a lot more money to play with.
Rayan Cherki, Lyon’s highly rated Frenchman, is also admired and with the Ligue 1 club needing to sell could be an option.
However, there is plenty of interest in Cherki and it could take some convincing to get him to Selhurst Park.
Who is more realistic?
Palace have been tracking Millwall’s teenage winger Romain Esse for some time.
Millwall will not want to lose the 19-year-old this month and there are questions as to whether he could come in and make an instant impact for Palace.
There are also issues to be resolved over a deal with the player’s camp before anything can progress but Palace have a superb record of recruiting from the Championship and are looking to pull off another smart deal.
How are the finances looking?
There are no concerns over meeting the Premier League’s PSR rules at Crystal Palace.
However, with the largest shareholder, John Textor, looking to sell his stake in the club there may be some hesitance to spend big this month.
Textor has long been looking for a way out at Palace after his relationship with chairman Steve Parish broke down.
Despite holding the smallest share, Parish has equal voting rights with all other shareholders and effectively has final say on decision making – which has been a frustration for Textor.
A number of parties have explored buying out his share, or investing into his Eagle Football Holdings group.
The American businessman, who also owns Lyon, Botafogo and RWD Molenbeek, is now in exclusive negotiations with a US-Saudi backed group for his 45 per cent share in the club.
Could anyone be on their way out?
At the start of the window few would have worried about losing anyone significant.
But then Chelsea lost defender Wesley Fofana and suddenly took a look across London.
Recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan has been considered but, in even worse news for Glasner, the Blues have now set their sights on bringing Guehi back to Stamford Bridge.
The Eagles will hold out for a huge price after managing to knock back interest from Newcastle in the summer, but no one will feel comfortable over his future until the window closes.
If everything went to plan, how could Palace line up after the January window?
Glasner would simply be delighted to keep his defence in one piece come the end of January – but if he could do that and bring in Ben Doak it’d be an excellent window Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
