‘The clear target’ – Crystal Palace boss outlines hope for upcoming January transfer window

Oliver Glasner admitted it is a ‘clear target’ for Crystal Palace to sign players as quickly as possible in the upcoming January window.

The former Wolfsburg also confirmed that the Eagles want to add an attacking addition in the winter transfer period.

Palace signed four players – Maxence Lacroix, Trevoh Chalobah, Matt Turner and Eddie Nketiah – on deadline day in the summer window, with Glasner being vocal about Palace starting the season on the back foot due to their late business.

The window opens on January 1 and closes on February 3 at 11pm.

Glasner said: “The goal of all of us is that if we sign a player, we sign him on January 1 and he starts training with us.

“We play Chelsea on January 4 and then the 11th is the FA Cup. 

“We hope we play in the EFL Cup semi-finals in January.

“The clear target for all of us is that if we sign a player, he will be here on January 1.

“But there are more parties involved than Steve [Parish], Dougie [Freedman] and me.”

Our paper reported last week that Palace wanted to add more creative attacking talent and cover a left wing-back for Tyrick Mitchell in the next registration period.

“It’s not so difficult to analyse our squad,” added Glasner.

“We have a lot of midfielders – Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma and Cheick Doucoure. 

“It wouldn’t make sense to add a new central midfielder. 

“It’s the same at the back with Chadi [Riad] and Chris [Richards] now coming back.

“We have Trevoh [Chalobah], Maxence [Lacroix] and Marc Guehi. We have Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward who can play in this position – we have enough. 

“When we look at the left wing-back position, maybe we don’t have many left-footed wing-backs.

“In our attack, especially with Matheus Franca, which is the most disappointing for him, because he really worked hard on his rehab and was a very important player in our planning.

“But he hasn’t been available and that means we don’t have as many numbers.

“We have missed him for the whole start of the season, so it’s clear we want to add an attacking player.”

PICTURE: ALAMY