Crystal Palace Told to Match Brighton After Losing More Players

Crystal Palace have been urged by experts to emulate Brighton & Hove Albion's transfer strategy following a series of key player departures in the January 2026 window, as detailed in recent Premier League transfer updates[1][2].

The Selhurst Park outfit have suffered significant losses, including star defender Marc Guéhi to Manchester City for £20m, midfielder Naouirou Ahamada to Auxerre on an undisclosed fee, and Luke Browne to Notts County. Goalkeeper Owen Goodman was also loaned to Barnsley, weakening Palace's squad depth amid their push for a top-six finish in the Premier League, where they currently sit 6th[1][2][3].

In response, Palace have made moves to bolster their ranks, signing winger Brennan Johnson from Tottenham for £35m—a marquee addition aimed at injecting pace and goals into Oliver Glasner's attack. They also recalled prospects Hindolo Mustapha from Nurnberg and Danny Imray from Blackpool on loan, signaling a youth-focused rebuild[1][2][4].

The article highlights an expert's call for Palace to mirror Brighton's model of shrewd recruitment and player development. Brighton, known for smart business, brought in Pascal Groß from Borussia Dortmund while loaning out talents like Facundo Buonanotte to Leeds United and Ibrahim Osman to Birmingham. This approach has sustained their mid-table stability and Europa League contention, despite limited outgoings[1][2][6].

Former Palace insider Jamie O'Hara argues that after "losing more players than anticipated," Palace must match Brighton's recruitment acumen to avoid regression. He praises Glasner's integration of Johnson alongside existing stars like Eberechi Eze (recently signed from Arsenal) and urges aggressive scouting in attack to replace Guéhi's leadership[3].

With the window ongoing as of January 27, 2026, Palace's ability to replicate Brighton's cycle of sell-to-buy and youth promotion will define their season. Failure risks fan frustration, but Johnson's arrival offers optimism[1][7].

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