Despite winning the FA Cup last season and cementing their place in European football, this summer could be a defining moment for Crystal Palace and owner Steve Parish.
Current manager Oliver Glasner has already announced that he will be leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season, with his contract expiring after two and a half years in charge.
The Austrian will undoubtedly be etched into Eagles history forever after winning the FA Cup, but it is vital that the board identifies the right person to take the club forward.
One of the main reasons for his resignation was due to public criticism of the hierarchy for deciding to sell key players and not replacing them.
However, the January period was a time when upper management put their money where their mouth was and subsequently spent significant amounts on new employees.
Conflicting performances by Johnson and Strand Larsen
As the winter window opened, Palace secured the signature of winger Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur, paying him £35 million for his services.
Such a price tag is a club record and there is no doubt that high hopes were placed on the Wales international to deliver in front of goal in south London.
However, the 24-year-old failed to score in his first 10 league games for the Eagles, with his only assist coming in the recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite Johnson’s winter arrival, the division once again broke their transfer record for the same period, subsequently spending £44m to sign striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen.
The Norwegian international has been tasked with leading the line for Glasner’s team in recent weeks and has already managed to fulfill the task since arriving in January.
He has already registered three goals and one assist in his first seven games so far, and the former Wolves star is already proving to be good value for money.
Palace star now worth more than Strand Larsen
In addition to record-breaking transfers, Palace have also done some shrewd business in the market, as seen in their £20m deal to bring in Adam Wharton in January 2024.
Since then, the midfielder has made 81 senior appearances for the Eagles, establishing himself as one of the club’s most important players.
The 22-year-old has cemented his place in the England national team this season with five assists, the most of any player in the Premier League.
His recent form has seen him linked with countless big-money signings, which could see him become the latest player to leave Selhurst Park in search of a small fortune.
However, despite his recent form in England’s top flight, he is still not the most valuable member of the squad, with attacker Yeremy Pino currently occupying that spot.
The Spaniard, who joined from Villarreal for an estimated £20m last summer, has already cemented his place in the starting eleven in recent months.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has already made 26 appearances in the Premier League so far, in which he has scored a total of three goals and provided an assist.
He also contributed six goals in other competitions, including the UEFA Conference League, helping the Eagles reach the last 16 of the tournament.
Pino’s basic statistics in England’s top flight further demonstrate his talent, many of which make him a key player in Glasner’s squad throughout the 2025/26 season.
Elémy Pino – PL Statistics (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | 26 |
goals and assists | 4 |
Pass accuracy | 75% |
An opportunity has arisen | 2.1 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 0.5 |
Dribbling completed | 43% |
won a duel | 4.5 |
shot taken | 1.9 |
He has created 2.1 chances per 90 this season, of which 0.5 have been big chances. He then ranked within the top 7% of all players in his division.
Other stats, such as a 43% dribble success rate and 1.9 shots per 90, further demonstrate his all-round quality in attacking areas, which influences his market value.
Pino is now valued at a staggering £61m by the CIES Football Observatory, a figure that is already three times more than he was paid in summer signing fees.
The aforementioned valuation is higher than Strand Larsen, who is currently valued at just £41m, despite recently moving to south London for £44m in January.
The Spaniard has certainly exceeded expectations at Selhurst Park since his arrival, and Pino is just one example of the club’s impressive performance in the transfer market.
The huge increase in his value certainly bodes well for the club, who have already completed a deal with a star who could leave again for a significant sum in the future.
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