Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has made it clear: if the club wants to remain competitive through the winter chaos, they need another attacker — and they need one fast. With Ismaïla Sarr heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) beginning December 21 in Morocco, Palace will lose their most explosive forward right when the season enters its most demanding stretch. The Austrian coach has openly stated that replacing Sarr’s unique profile is not optional but essential.
While supporters look toward the January window with hope, Glasner is juggling a packed schedule, squad concerns, and a holiday season where, jokingly, he fears he’ll be too busy searching for strikers to shop for Christmas gifts for his wife. The fight for momentum now depends on what Palace can secure in the market.
Ismaïla Sarr has been one of the Eagles’ most influential players this season, contributing 10 goals across club and international matches, including an eye-opening run of four goals in three appearances against Liverpool. Beyond the stats, his value lies in his unique playing style: pace behind the defense, vertical threat, and one-on-one unpredictability. In short, he stretches opponents — something no other Palace attacker can replicate.
Glasner didn’t hide the tactical hole Sarr’s absence creates:
“He’s the only player who makes runs in behind, who tests the profile… we need players to stretch the defense and I hope that we will get it done.”
AFCON will remove Sarr for potentially four weeks, depending on Senegal’s success in the tournament. For a team competing domestically and in Europe, that isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a structural crisis.
Palace already stumbled this week, falling 2-1 to Strasbourg and snapping a five-match unbeaten run. With eight matches scheduled in December alone, including a Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Arsenal, the pressure to reinforce the attack is enormous.
Transfer rumors are already circulating, with reports linking Palace to Danny Willock, formerly of Arsenal and currently at Newcastle. And although Palace haven’t confirmed targets, Glasner didn’t hesitate when asked whether a new striker is fundamental for the second half of the campaign:
“Yes.”
The urgency for reinforcements is complicated by additional uncertainty at Selhurst Park. Glasner, who won the FA Cup in his debut season, publicly criticized Palace last summer for what he considered slow and insufficient transfer business. Now, as he approaches the end of his contract, interest from other clubs is growing — and the club risks losing more than just players.
