Crystal Palace are looking to strengthen in January, with a forward among the key positions Oliver Glasner wants strengthened.
The Eagles are the Premier League’s second-lowest goalscorers, which has heightened the need for reinforcements.
Oliver Glasner himself asked for another forward a few weeks ago, while rumours ahead of the January transfer window certainly suggest an attacker is on the priority list.
Glasner has also demanded signings be made quickly, due to four deadline-day signings in the summer being far from ideal.
Now, Dougie Freedman has taken this demand on board, as Crystal Palace are in talks for Romain Esse.
READ MORE: Who is Dougie Freedman? The Crystal Palace Sporting Director linked with Manchester United switch
Steve Gallen on Millwall’s January transfer plans
It looks increasingly likely that Palace will sign Esse in January. Now Millwall director Steve Gallen has opened up possible moves in the upcoming window, with words which relate to the Esse situation.
Romain Esse of Millwall celebrates scoring the first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall FC and Plymouth Argyle FC at The D...
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“We don’t want to sell anybody in January,” Gallen admitted to Millwall TV. “There’s nobody in the football club saying we need to make a sale.
“We want to keep our good players, but we also realise if they are doing well that there was a lot of interest after the Leeds and Burnley games [Millwall won both 1-0] in our players. It’s great. I get a scouting list sent to me after every game. I’m tracking who is coming to watch us.
“I want the stand full of European clubs and Premier League clubs coming to watch our players. There are quite a few coming and that is good for our football club.
“We realise eventually we will sell one or two players and then replace them with one or two to try and make us sustainable. But we also want to win football matches and be up around the top of the league.”
Esse is the only real emerging star at Millwall and so these words correlate directly to Esse. This also makes sense as to why Palace would send him back on loan, with Gallen unwilling to lose players in January.
Crystal Palace could see £12m become a bargain for Esse
Signing Esse will cost Crystal Palace around £12m. This is a significant outlay for a player who will reportedly spend the rest of the season elsewhere.
However, with Bundesliga sides along with other Premier League clubs circling for Esse. The chance to sign him may not have been presented in the summer if more attractive options presented themselves.
So by wrapping up Esse in January, Palace can watch and enjoy his performances knowing that he will be at Copers Cope come June.
Additionally, allowing Millwall to keep him for the remainder of this season ticks the box Gallen outlined of not wanting to sell in January.
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