Crystal Palace’s January spending — £35m Brennan Johnson and £43m Jørgen Strand Larsen — signals an urgent hunt for goals. Punters: consider backing Palace to lift their goals-per-game and Strand Larsen as an anytime scorer, but exercise caution on relegation markets while the side endures a 12-game winless run and managerial uncertainty.
Palace’s frantic January window: record signings amid growing unease
Crystal Palace reshaped their squad in January, breaking transfer records twice by signing Brennan Johnson for £35m and Jørgen Strand Larsen for an initial £43m (plus add-ons). The club also secured Evann Guessand on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer. Despite the big outlay, supporters remain anxious: Palace sit on a 12-game winless run across all competitions and the manager has publicly confirmed he will leave at the end of the season.
Immediate problem: goals
Palace entered the market desperate for scorers. They rank among the Premier League’s lowest scorers with 25 goals this season and are underperforming their expected goals by roughly 13. Jean-Philippe Mateta has managed just one goal in 12 club appearances and is carrying a knee problem, which has influenced selection and transfer thinking.
Strand Larsen: premium purchase with Premier League pedigree
Jørgen Strand Larsen arrived at significant cost — a rare premium purchase for Palace — but brings Premier League experience, a physical presence in the box and a record of 14 goals in the previous season. At 26, he fits the requirement for a player who can make an immediate impact rather than one who needs long-term development. The transfer carries risk: if he fails to hit form, Palace will be committed to a large fee, a long contract and a notable wage bill.
Johnson and Guessand: differing gambles
Brennan Johnson was acquired to add pace and threat running in behind defences, but has struggled to influence games in his first six appearances. Evann Guessand arrives as a short-term reinforcement with a conditional obligation to make the deal permanent; his long-term value remains to be seen given inconsistent performances on loan at other clubs.
Failed exits and near-misses unsettled the squad
The window featured several dramatic near-moves. A sale of Mateta to AC Milan collapsed late after medicals and associated costs, leaving the striker in limbo and Palace without clarity on his fitness or future. The departure of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City went through with little time to line up a replacement, a move that publicly frustrated the manager and left a defensive void.
Collapsed approaches and market friction
Palace pursued multiple targets but were repeatedly stymied by clubs unwilling to sell mid-season or by escalating valuations.
Talks over Everton’s Dwight McNeil broke down in the final hours amid disagreements on the fee structure. Interest in centre-backs — including Benfica’s Tomas Araujo, Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez and West Ham’s Maximilian Kilman — failed to produce arrivals.
A proposed loan for Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock stalled when only a permanent deal was offered. These late ripples in the market forced Palace into pragmatic, sometimes costly, solutions.
Wider squad issues and immediate outlook
In midfield, Daichi Kamada’s hamstring check and Cheick Doucouré’s knee recovery restricted options, though Kamada’s anticipated return and Adam Wharton returning from suspension should help.
Chadi Riad made his comeback after 18 months out, but he is not a direct replacement for Guehi’s Premier League experience.
Overall net activity saw Palace spend an initial reported £80m on three attackers while recouping roughly £20m from Guehi’s sale — a heavy mid-season outlay that likely means a summer focus will revert to younger, sellable talent.
What it means on the pitch
On paper the attack looks improved, but Premier League form and fixture congestion mean immediate returns are far from guaranteed. The manager’s impending departure and a thin defensive reinvestment add uncertainty. New signings must adapt quickly if Palace are to avoid slipping into a relegation fight.
Bottom line
Palace’s winter window was energetic and expensive, aimed squarely at fixing an underperforming attack. It involved calculated risks — and some failed deals — that leave the club in a more fragile defensive position. The January additions offer hope of goals, but until form and fitness improve, both fans and bettors should temper expectations and watch starting lineups and Mateta’s fitness closely.
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