Crystal Palace FC – Transfer news, results, fixtures, video and audio

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Where will you finish, and why?

10th. It might seem pessimistic, a trait hardwired into Palace fans, but the bottom half of the Premier League is unlikely to be as disjointed again and other mid-table clubs have strengthened well. The club still can improve by breaking the 50-point total in the top flight for the first time since 1991-92.

Who is the best signing, or has he not signed yet?

Daichi Kamada may not be a long-term Crystal Palace player, as he only signed for an initial two years. Yet, acquiring him was a proactive move by the club, given the interest in Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. As a former Oliver Glasner player, he looks like a plug-and-play option to start the season behind the centre forward.

What do you want from your manager this season?

The simple answer is more of the same. The indulgent answer would be to compete in cup competitions. Fans have looked at Glasner’s DFB-Pokal success with Eintracht Frankfurt with a sense of longing.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

Adam Wharton’s call-up to the England squad likely disqualifies him from being a “breakout star” this season. So, keeping that in mind, new central defender Chadi Riad is primed to take that title. A young left-footed central defender and Marc Guehi insurance policy, Riad is well-placed to step into the starting XI should Guehi exit the club.

What is your one major concern?

Simply put, losing Eze. We can be pragmatic about losing any key player, especially given the transfer fees they are currently demanding. However, losing Olise earlier than expected to Bayern Munich places more importance on Eze. Losing both puts pressure on the club to deliver a ready-made starter to close the summer and likely unravels Glasner’s gameplan.

Alex Pewter can be found at FYP podcast, external