Oliver Glasner has insisted Crystal Palace will not be forced into altering their January transfer plans despite mounting injuries and the added strain of an extra Europa Conference League play-off. The Eagles missed out on automatic qualification for the round of 16 after being held to a 2–2 draw by ten-man KuPS, meaning they now face a two-legged play-off in January.
The result compounded concerns around squad depth, with Palace already stretched by injuries and Ismaïla Sarr currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Glasner responded by making wholesale changes in Finland, naming an entirely different starting XI and handing senior debuts to academy trio Joel Drakes-Thomas, Dean Benamar and George King.
Despite the added fixture congestion and the frustration of another dropped Conference League result, Glasner was adamant that the club’s transfer strategy remains firmly in place.
“Everything is already on track”
Speaking to TNT Sports after full-time, Glasner dismissed suggestions that the play-off or injury situation would prompt reactive moves in the market.
“We started to talk about this weeks ago,” he said. “If we start now, it is too late. Everything is already on track, and it’s just to get the deals done. We know this, the club knows this, the board knows this.”
The Palace manager made clear that planning for January had been ongoing well before their European fate was decided, and that the additional fixtures will not lead to panic or short-term fixes.
Glasner also refused to reveal which areas he wants to strengthen, stressing that transparency would only inflate prices.
“I don’t want to talk about it because if everybody knows it just gets more expensive,” he added. “Everything is on track, and the club, Matt Hobbs and Steve [Parish] are really working hard to get these deals done and I trust in them.”
The Eagles will discover their play-off opponents on January 16, with Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar or Czech club Sigma Olomouc the most likely candidates. Either tie would add further pressure to an already congested winter schedule.
Key Insights
- Glasner insists Palace’s January plans will not change despite injuries
- Eagles must now contest a two-legged Conference League play-off
- Three academy players made senior debuts against KuPS
- Manager refused to reveal transfer targets to avoid inflated fees
- Palace return to Premier League action away at Leeds
What’s Next?
Crystal Palace travel to Elland Road tomorrow to face Leeds United before turning their attention back to Europe in January. With injuries mounting and fixtures piling up, Glasner’s faith in long-term planning — rather than reactive recruitment — will soon be put to the test.
👉 Palace fans — should the club stick rigidly to the plan, or adapt given the extra European fixtures?
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