Guardian writers’ predicted position: 10th (NB: this is not necessarily Ed Aarons’ prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 10th
Prospects
The style that Oliver Glasner’s thrilling side showed in rounding off last season with six victories from their last seven matches – including a memorable 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United – left Crystal Palace supporters desperate for more. Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze were the stars of a team that scored 16 goals in their last four matches at Selhurst Park as Palace ended up matching their best Premier League finish of 10th and finishing above Brighton despite a 4-1 defeat at their rivals in the dark depths of February, a couple of weeks before Roy Hodgson’s departure.
Sadly for Palace – as Brighton supporters can certainly testify – success makes them vulnerable. Bayern Munich wanted Glasner as their manager before signing Olise for a fee worth up to £50m, and Glasner faces the prospect of losing at least one other key player. Newcastle are increasingly optimistic of signing Marc Guéhi, whose reputation was enhanced by his performances for England at Euro 2024, and Eze has attracted interest from Manchester City and Tottenham.
If Palace can keep hold of either, Glasner will have the opportunity to build on last season’s finish with a squad that should be well suited to his innovative 3-4-2-1 formation. The new arrival Chadi Riad will add cover in defence, and Daichi Kamada – who worked under Glasner at Eintracht Frankfurt when they won the Europa League in 2022 – and Ismaïla Sarr, bought from Marseille, should go some way to replacing Olise.
Whether Palace can push further up the table may depend on the young England star Adam Wharton picking up where he left off in central midfield and the form of last season’s goalscoring sensation Jean-Philippe Mateta after he led the line for France at the Olympic Games.
The manager
Cool, calm and collected, Glasner made an almost instant impact having been parachuted in a few months earlier than expected when things turned sour for Hodgson. Palace’s record with managers from overseas has not been great but the former defender, who was forced to retire from playing after a brain haemorrhage when he sustained a head injury during a match in 2011, looks the perfect fit. In the space of a few weeks Glasner implemented his ideas and found a way to fill the gaps in the squad after a number of injuries. Palace fans will be hoping the board continue to back him and the honeymoon period can continue.
Off-field picture
Work has finally started on the new main stand more than six years after planning permission was granted by Croydon council, but the situation in the boardroom is less certain. Lyon’s owner, John Textor, announced in May that he was selling his 45% stake in Palace as he looks to take over another English club, and 14 potential investors from around the world have expressed interest. It remains to be seen whether his stake will be divided up, although any newcomer would have to work within the existing structure, with the chairman, Steve Parish, retaining ultimate control. The cost of the stand means finances are stretched, although the sale of Olise means Palace have some money to spend in the transfer market.
Breakout star
The manner in which Wharton adapted to the Premier League after he joined from Blackburn midway through last season convinced Gareth Southgate to include the 20-year-old in his Euro 2024 squad. Wharton didn’t make it on to the pitch in Germany but expect the softly spoken midfielder to grow in stature. Wharton has been linked with bigger clubs after only 17 Premier League appearances but will be concerned only with developing his game under the watchful eye of Glasner. He could form a formidable partnership in the Palace midfield with Cheick Doucouré, who missed most of last season with an achilles injury.
The A-lister
Eze, not usually one to court attention off the pitch, was asked to take part in a fashion shoot for Burberry after he was called up to England’s Euro 2024 squad. The 26-year-old counts the brand among the sponsors of his foundation, which held the second annual Eze Invitational tournament a few days before he flew to Germany. Eze’s performances improved last season when Olise was in the team and it will be intriguing to see how he fares as the leading man in the absence of the France Under-21 forward – if he stays, of course. Supporters would wish Eze and Guéhi – who last season became Palace’s youngest captain – all the best if they were to move on, but will be praying at least one can be convinced the grass isn’t always greener.
What they did this summer
Dean Henderson probably wasn’t trying to stoke Palace’s rivalry with Brighton when he commented on Lewis Dunk’s singing after Ed Sheeran put on a private gig for England’s players at Euro 2024. “Dunky was the worst singer,” revealed the Palace goalkeeper. “Ivan Toney was top.” Henderson had to watch the tournament from the bench sitting next to the Brighton captain but was one of four Palace players selected by England – a record for the club. It was also a busy summer for the Colombian pair Jefferson Lerma and Daniel Muñoz, who went to the Copa América. Lerma scored the winner against Uruguay in the semi-final but their adventure also ended in disappointment in the final, with defeat by Argentina after extra time.
