Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner will hope to hold onto key players this January.placeholder image
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner will hope to hold onto key players this January. | Getty Images
Crystal Palace are hoping to strengthen their squad this January transfer window
Crystal Palace have seen their strong start to the season begin to tail off in recent weeks as the Eagles become accustomed to the demands of competing in Europe with their tight-knit squad of players.
As always, Palace stars have been linked with moves away and Glasner will hope to hold onto his key players in this window so that the FA Cup winners can launch a strong second half of the season, despite their shock third-round cup exit at the hands of National League North side Macclesfield.
Recent reports have noted interest in an Eagles star which the south London outfit will hope no longer exists as the window approaches its final two weeks.
Amorim ‘wanted’ Jean-Phillipe Mateta - the board disagreed
According to reports by Sky Sports, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was wanted by Ruben Amorim before the Portuguese was sacked as head coach of Manchester United.
Reporting states that Amorim wanted ‘some experienced attacking options’ and had identified Mateta and Brighton’s Danny Welbeck as potential targets he ‘liked’, but the Red Devils hierarchy were ‘not ready’ to sanction further spending on forwards after a £200m outlay over the summer on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
There was reportedly a ‘disagreement’ over transfer policy between Amorim and the United board over players such as Mateta, though the ‘difference of opinion’ over strengthening in January is said not to have been a crucial factor in Amorim’s dismissal.
It is not known whether United are still actively interested in a pursuit of Mateta following the recent appointment of Michael Carrick on an interim basis, with reports stating that the Old Trafford club have ‘no plans’ to spend in January unless a long-term target becomes available at the right price.
Eagles will hope ‘brilliant’ Mateta stays put
France international Mateta has been typically stand-out for Palace this season, bagging 10 goals in all competitions to follow on from the 17 and 19 he managed in the last two campaigns. Mateta is one of several Palace stars, alongside the likes of Adam Wharton, whom they cannot afford to lose in January with a lack of suitable replacements available. The Eagles still have a lot to play for this term and will believe they have a shot at winning the Conference League if they can keep their squad together.
Mateta was previously hailed as “brilliant” by Jamie Carragher in April 2025 after a string of outstanding performances, with the Sky Sports pundit claiming that “other clubs will be looking at him”. While that has proven true, Mateta remains a Crystal Palace player for now and the club will hope he stays put at Selhurst Park for the foreseeable future.
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