The Crystal Palace boss has called for reinforcements with Ismaila Sarr set to leave on Africa Nations Cup duty for Senegal
Oliver Glasner “needs” a new forward for Christmas – but the Crystal Palace boss fears he will be too busy to buy his wife Bettina a present this December.
The Austrian saw an unbeaten five-match run end with a 2-1 UEFA Conference League defeat in Strasbourg on Thursday night.
And the FA Cup winner has now called for squad reinforcements with Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr set to miss up to a month at the Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament starts in Morocco on December 21.
Asked if he would like a new attacker in January, Glasner said: “I think we need to. Ismaila Sarr will also leave us, he’s the only player who makes runs in behind, who tests the profile.
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“So maybe, I think we just have to have this profile again because also the other players on the bench, they are a different profile and we need players to stretch the defence and I hope that we will get it done.”
Sarr has scored 10 goals for club and. country already this season, including four goals in three games against Liverpool. Newcastle ’s former Arsenal star Danny Willock has already been linked with a move back to London.
Asked if signing a new striker was the key to being competitive in the second half of the season at home and abroad, Glasner stated: “Yes”.
The Austrian publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Palace’s late transfer business in the summer of 2024 – and he faces losing captain Marc Guehi at the end of the season. Glasner will also be out of contract and will be of interest to other clubs if he cannot agree a contract extension at Selhurst Park.
More immediately, Palace host Manchester United on Sunday before a hectic December with eight games, including visiting Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final now on Tuesday 23.
“It’s moved from 24th to 23rd,” Glasner said. “That means all the players can celebrate Christmas with their families because everybody gets off 24th and 25th. Of course before it’s quite busy and afterwards but Christmas is family time.
“But no time for Christmas shopping. So fortunately I get all the support from my wife, she’s responsible for all this stuff. And of course we play on the 23rd at 8 o’clock at the Emirates.
“In continental Europe, we celebrate Christmas Eve on the 24th. So that’s busy. So I will fly back to Austria on the 24th in the morning and of course I hope that everything’s already prepared and then enjoying going to church and enjoying Christmas dinner with my family. But no, I have no time for getting gifts or all this stuff.
“That’s a challenge. I have to find one for my wife because she can’t buy the gift for herself or she shouldn’t. But it will work, so we are used to this rhythm. Even last year we played on the 26th and so we will find a solution.”
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