Crystal Palace could be heading into one of their toughest seasons in recent years due to the expected departures this summer. With Michael Olise already gone, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze might also leave, meaning the club could lose three of their best players in the same transfer window.
This puts manager Oliver Glasner in a difficult position, needing to find replacements for these key players while also improving other areas of the squad, all with the Premier League season just days away.
Fortunately, Palace have managed to sign Ismaila Sarr as a replacement for Olise. However, Sarr will face considerable pressure to match Olise’s impressive contribution from last season, where he scored ten goals and provided six assists in just 19 games.
Our new #7 ✨
Ismaïla Sarr.#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 10, 2024
In Crystal Palace transfer news, Fabrizio Romano reports that the club is set to miss out on re-signing Wilfried Zaha, who seems poised to join Leicester City instead. If Zaha completes the move, he would become Leicester’s fifth signing this summer, following Issahaku Fatawu, Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Zaha had a productive season with Galatasaray, making 42 appearances, scoring ten goals, providing five assists, and playing 2,110 minutes across all competitions.
Comparing Zaha, Sarr, and Olise, Zaha could have been a valuable option for Palace, capable of playing on both wings or through the middle. His addition could have not only strengthened Palace’s attack but also prepared the team for Eze’s potential departure.
In terms of stats per 90 minutes, Zaha shows a strong 1v1 threat, completing more successful take-ons, taking more shots, and scoring more goals. Sarr, on the other hand, offers a slightly more progressive profile, contributing more in terms of progressive carries and passes. While Zaha ranks closer to Olise in several metrics, Sarr is higher in a few areas, including progressive carries and passes.
A combination of Zaha and Sarr could have potentially filled the creative void left by Olise while adding the necessary goals and assists, but it now appears that Leicester could benefit from Zaha’s talents instead.