Crystal Palace might be resigned to losing Oliver Glasner at the end of the season, but that hasn't stopped Steve Parish from planning ahead.
Much has changed this season, and while it feels like Palace are at something of a lower ebb after winning the FA Cup in 2025 and then losing Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi to top Premier League rivals, silverware is still on the cards for the Londoners.
However, performances need to improve, with Saturday's goalless draw against ten-man Leeds United being a tough one to take. Glasner refused to step out of his tactical skin and play with more aggression and enterprise in the final third. Leeds dug deep, and their defensive resilience prevailed.
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For now, Eagles fans can only hope that the Austrian coach will make the right tweaks over the next few months as Palace chase down the Conference League title and an unlikely top-seven league finish.
But there's no question that attacking changes are needed.
Palace planning summer transfer changes
Jorgen Strand Larsen was signed for a club-record £48m fee in February, replacing Jean-Philippe Mateta despite the Frenchman's £30m move to AC Milan falling through.
This was an important signing, not least because Mateta, 28, has resolved to leave Selhurst Park after five years, and made his return, off the bench, during Saturday's goalless draw. He looked well off the pace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta in the Premier League
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But the Les Bleus star had hardly been in the finest fettle beforehand, and while Strand Larsen is up and running, Parish and co would be wise to sign an able replacement to contest with the newbie.
According to Football Insider, they appear to have settled on their man. Crystal Palace are ready to wage transfer battle with Leeds United for Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang, who is valued at £20m.
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The 25-year-old is one of Derby's prize possessions, and they don't want to let him go. Even so, the pull of the Premier League is strong, and Palace are aware that they need to reinforce their frontline.
Why Agyemang would be perfect for Palace
In Eddie Nketiah, we have something of a forgotten man. Plans for another goalscorer might be abandoned if placing faith in the former Arsenal striker, but he's left too much to be desired since moving south.
In Agyemang, Palace would land a forward with the capacity to outdistance Nketiah in the race for success, all the while corroborating Parish and the recruitment team's expertise in taking from the EFL.
Derby County's Patrick Agyemang in action with West Bromwich Albion's Nathaniel Phillips
In recent years, the Eagles have harvested their fair share of quality from the Championship, with Eze, Guehi and Michael Olise all cutting their teeth in the second tier before becoming Premier League superstars.
In that, the 6 foot 4 Agyemang could mimic them. Across 33 league appearances this season, he has scored 10 goals and supplied three assists, linking up well with his teammates and utilising his frame to act as a focal point toward which his teammates can channel their energy and creativity.
Agyemang's consistency throughout the campaign, as well as his ability to drift about the frontline, playing out on the left and even as a No. 10 this season, underscores his potential in a Palace shirt, someone who could complement and rival Strand Larsen without proving a carbon copy. He certainly has what it takes to replace Mateta.
The USMNT international, with five goals from 12 caps, hasn't made the big leap to the top division, but his power, physicality and tall frame make him a tailor-made option for a club like Palace, remarkably winning 6.1 duels per game too.
This powerhouse of a striker might not have the flair and world-class potential of former talents like Eze and Olise, but he could follow that same pathway up to the Premier League, having caught the eye in the Championship and shown that he has the capacity to offer so much more.
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