When Crystal Palace return to action following the March international break, they will have their sights set on lifting the Conference League trophy, with this week's win over AEK Larnaca setting up a quarter-finals tie with Fiorentina.
Palace have enjoyed a rich spell under Oliver Glasner's wing, but the Austrian's system has gone rather stale in recent months, with chairman Steve Parish even considering dismissing the manager after his unilateral declaration that he would leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season.
oliver glasner
Still, the Eagles are fighting to make it back-to-back title-winning seasons, and with Ismaila Sarr in such fine form, they might just hit their lofty target.
Ismaila Sarr has become Palace's focal point
Last season, Sarr played a crucial role in the greatest year in Crystal Palace's history, winning the FA Cup and scoring goals. However, he was overshadowed by Eberechi Eze, who has since joined Arsenal in a £67m deal.
Ismaila Sarr for Crystal Palace
It was his brace that fired Palace through to the last eight of the Conference League, marking goals 14 and 15 for the season, having played 32 matches across all competitions.
Adam Wharton said, "it works wonders, having him" after the 28-year-old's latest exploit, not just deadly in front of goal but endowed with blistering speed and a steely athleticism.
He's the real deal, and Parish and co will face a fight to keep him at the club this summer, with suitors sure to sniff around.
To think that Palace only paid £13m to snap him up from Marseille in 2024. He has repaid that price tag and then some, with Transfermarkt recording that he is now worth around £30m.
He's one of the biggest hitters in south London, but Sarr isn't actually the most valuable member of Glasner's Crystal Palace squad.
Palace have hit gold on high-value forward
Crystal Palace have undergone a period of transition, but they've also continued to recruit shrewdly, and Jorgen Strand Larsen has the potential to thrive as the new attacking superstar at Selhurst Park.
Welcomed as Jean-Philippe Mateta's replacement (though the French striker is still in London after his winter move to AC Milan fell through), the 25-year-old has scored three goals from ten appearances so far.
Jorgen Strand Larsen for Crystal Palace
It was something of a risk to sign Strand Larsen from imperilled Wolves, a forward who had only scored once in the Premier League this season.
But he's been excellent so far, not quite immense but certainly proving that he has the quality to become a first-class focal frontman over the coming years.
For a club-record £48m fee, Palace fans will expect to see the Norway international develop into a prolific goalscorer, envied by rivals, but he's already a physical specimen with strong link-up play, making a "nuisance" of himself, as has been noted by pundit Alan Shearer.
Crystal Palace - Top Scorers 25/26 (all comps)
Player
Ismaila Sarr
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Yeremy Pino
Eddie Nketiah
Daniel Munoz
Sarr has stretched away from his teammates in the scoring charts this season, but the addition of Strand Larsen will change that. After all, he bagged 14 goals and four assists in the top flight last season, and the hope will be that he replicates that form next term.
With a £48m price tag, he's one of the most valuable players at the club, with a higher ceiling than Sarr and an attacking presence to build around.
Strand Larsen is Palace's club-record man, and that £48m figure is beyond Sarr's value, even as the Senegalese winger continues to grow into his talismanic role.
He's not the finished article yet, but the Norwegian has the potential to become someone who leads the Selhurst Park side forward over the coming years, maintaining the strong attacking quality that has characterised the outfit in recent years.
jorgen-strand-larsen-crystal-palace
Whether he will outdrive Sarr remains to be seen, but when considering his market value, the expectation is that he will do so.
Zaha celebrates a goal Related
Glasner could drop Strand Larsen & unleash Crystal Palace's new Zaha
Crystal Palace have their sights set on winning the Conference League before several inevitable departures.