Crystal Palace

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, PA Media

Crystal Palace came into this window looking for a left wing-back and an attacker to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.

Manager Oliver Glasner has spoken about how the late arrivals in the summer led to Palace's slow start to the season and that he wanted to avoid the same in January.

The Eagles have been following both Liverpool loanee Ben Doak and Millwall forwad Romain Esse.

Esse's manager, Alex Neil, this week confirmed that Palace are interested in the 19-year-old and that discussions are ongoing.

The Eagles need reinforcements in the forward positions as Matheus Franca has been out injured for most of the campaign and Glasner has relied heavily on the front three of Jean Philippe-Mateta, Ismailia Sarr and Eberechi Eze.

Palace are the fifth-lowest scorers in the league with 21 goals in 20 games and another attacker could add more end product.

Meanwhile, Tyrick Mitchell has been the mainstay of the Palace defence on the left side since making his breakthrough in 2020. Glasner has said that he can improve his attacking output but he is always solid and dependable.

Recently, he clocked up his 150th Premier League appearance, a demonstration of his reliability. It would be a huge blow if he was to be ruled out for any length of time as there is not a natural option for him if that was to happen.

Palace have quality in their squad but a couple more additions this month would leave them in a more healthy position.

Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell, 25, is wanted by several Premier League clubs and the England full-back has also been scouted by Atletico Madrid. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Stockport County and Crystal Palace have only ever met once before in the FA Cup - a 2-1 win for Palace in the second round in December 1933.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sportsbank, an investment business, has signed an exclusivity agreement about investing in Eagle Football Holdings - Crystal Palace's biggest shareholder.

Eagle Football Holdings is the multi-club organisation owned by Palace co-owner John Textor.

As well his the 45% stake in Crystal Palace, Textor owns Botafogo, Olympique Lyon and RWD Molenbeenk in Belgium through his Eagle Football operation.

The Raine Group have been running the process. Textor had instructed them to find a bidder for his stake when he attempted to buy Everton.

One source says that Sportsbank have Palace fans within the investment group and one of those is likely to take the place of Textor in any involvement in Crystal Palace should the deal go through, but Textor would still own and run the Eagle Football group.

However, despite Textor looking to sell his stake in the club, a source also says that the American would still be open to buying the majority of the club if the opportunity arose.

Crystal Palace have made contact with Millwall about the possibility of signing 19-year-old English winger Romain Esse. (Standard, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace are interested in Millwall winger Romain Esse.

The 19-year-old is being tracked by the Eagles this window along with Liverpool loanee Ben Doak.

Sources around Millwall believe there is interest from multiple clubs in Esse, who signed a new deal with the Lions in August.

According to one source, Esse has a release clause in his contract and it will take that to be triggered for the attacker to make a move this month.

The England Under-20 international has five goals and one assist in 25 games for Millwall this season.

Palace are looking to sign a left wing-back and an attacker during this transfer window to bolster the options available to manager Oliver Glasner.

Crystal Palace and Ipswich are set to make improved bids worth £20m for Liverpool's 19-year-old Scotland midfielder Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough. (Guardian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

With the Southampton game a week ago, Tyrick Mitchell reached a significant milestone in his senior career: 150 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace. This season has cemented him as the defender with the third-most appearances at the highest level for the club, behind only Joel Ward and Scott Dann.

Since debuting under Roy Hodgson in 2020 as a defence-first full-back, Mitchell has continued to be one of the most effective one-on-one tacklers in the Premier League. For instance, in Saturday's match-up with Chelsea's Pedro Neto, early threats from the Portugal winger saw Mitchell adapt successfully to preserve the balance of the game.

One curiosity in the squad-building at Selhurst Park has been that since Patrick van Aanholt left in summer 2021, Mitchell has essentially been the only dedicated left-back in the squad.

Given the workload and burden on any wide player, defensive or attacking, it is more impressive that he has only missed five league matches in that time. The long-held suspicion is that he has had to play through the inevitable niggles due to being that lone left-sided defender.

Yet, with the suggestion that Palace will finally recruit competition at his left wing-back spot, the idea has emerged that Mitchell will inevitably lose his place in the team rather than benefit from improved squad depth.

The transition under Oliver Glasner from full-back to wing-back has been steep for a player developed under very different coaches, but it has not been unsuccessful. Currently, he is joint with Ismaila Sarr for creating the most Opta-defined 'big chances' this season, and he has three assists to his name, without the aid of set-pieces.

Despite online speculation to the contrary, his contract is due to expire in 2027, making him a firm part of the club's long-term future - and it is unlikely Mitchell will give up his starting spot willingly.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Image source, Unique Sports Group

Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix helped to fund 50 bags of clothes for men and women in South London experiencing homelessness of the Christmas period.

The essential kits worth £100 contained a waterproof bag, a tracksuit, three pairs of thermal socks, five boxers, toiletries, gloves and a hat. They were given out on 23 December in collaboration with Spires charity.

Spires said Maxence also spent two hours chatting with their clients, who shared their experiences and enjoyed his football stories.

Seven other Palace players donated to the cause, in addition to the Unique Sports Group.

Chelsea are debating whether to recall English defender Trevoh Chalobah, 25, from his loan spell at Crystal Palace or try to sign a new defender in January. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace are interested in Liverpool forward Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship as they look for January reinforcements.

The Eagles are looking to add a left wing-back and an attacker to their squad to increase the options manager Oliver Glasner has for the second half of the season.

Doak has two goals and six assists in 21 appearances for Middlesbrough so far this season.

Liverpool have had offers for Doak with clubs in the Premier League and across Europe showing interest in the Scotland winger. Palace have had a £15m bid rejected, according to reports.

However, the bids so far for 19-year-old do not come close to what the Reds are looking for, with the Anfield club valuing him at about £30m.

Doak has helped Boro to fifth place in the Championship and are happy with how his stint at the Riverside club is going. They believe he has the quality to return and play for them in the future.

The Eagles have also been linked with Jobe Bellingham of Sunderland and RC Lens midfielder Andy Diouf, but one source has said a move for either midfielder is unlikely this month.

Elsewhere, Chelsea do have a recall option on Trevoh Chalobah, who is on loan at Selhurst Park but Glasner is "planning" for him to stay.

"Trevoh is doing very well for us and we are planning with him," the Austrian said after Saturday's 1-1 draw between the clubs.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Glen: The team have to be more consistent. The first half was far too respectful and we just let Chelsea play. The second half was like watching a different team. The energy and pace of the play was excellent and what is needed. Overall, it was a decent match. My only worry is the lack of depth in the squad at the moment.

Derek: A massive point considering Chelsea are one of our bogey sides. There is a lot to look forward to, given the long-awaited returns of Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton.

Adam: I just love the fact that Chelsea can't beat us! Yes, we weren't great in the first half, but the next 45 minutes were epic. We fought and created chances. It was good to watch. Well done Oliver Glasner - that must have been one hell of a half-time team talk.

Al: Three months ago, we would have lost this game, but the team is showing a resilience, a togetherness and a refusal to give up. We had injuries and loan restrictions but we still showed our potential. Consistency is key and hopefully 2025 will bring this, under Glasner's guidance.

Chelsea fans

Freddie: It's an age-old issue that has come back to haunt us; many chances created and not enough taken. I can't fault anyone in particular, except for Nicola Jackson, who should have put away at least one goal. But it doesn't look great after the last few games. Josh Acheampong looked amazing at centre-back though, could he be the answer to our injury woes?

Jarvis: Enzo Maresca has no Plan B. He lacks the technical ability to change the team's shape during the game. Every time we go ahead but we don't score a second or third when we are actually bossing the game. The opposition suss us out and get on top. We need a world-class striker. It's pointless making all these chances if we don't score from them. Too early for Maresca out?

Jamie: Substitutes were far too late again, just like against Fulham. Either go for the second goal and change a winger or add some reinforcements to the midfield. We desperately need Romeo Lavia back.

John: Every team has a wobble and as long as Maresca can get us a Champions League spot, he has done his job properly.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

• Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been speaking to Match of the Day after the game: "At the end, it is a deserved point. In the first 20 or 30 minutes, Chelsea were clearly the better team and deserved to take the lead but, in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half, we started to play forwards and then we were in the game.

"We were creating chances and everyone at Selhurst Park then gets the feeling 'we are back'. The fans had the feeling, the players had the feeling, and it was an excellent goal.

"We were giving them too much of the ball, losing it too quickly, but staying in the game was important. We always know we can score a goal and that's what we did at the end.

"You can feel and see that we are progressing. Having five points from three games is really positive. It is about how quickly we can pass the ball and find solutions."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have avoided defeat against Chelsea, both home and away, in a single league campaign for the first time since 1991-92, where they also drew both games.

Eberechi Eze assisted his seventh Premier League goal for Jean-Phillipe Mateta in this game. No Crystal Palace player has ever assisted a teammate more often in the competition - Andros Townsend also made seven assists for Christian Benteke.

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Inconsistency has been the overriding theme for Crystal Palace in 2024-25 and that was the case again when Chelsea made the short trip to Selhurst Park.

Palace could have been down and out at half-time but were fortunate to trail by just a strike from Cole Palmer.

They came out with renewed vigour in the second period and were almost level within minutes when Eberechi Eze rolled the ball just wide.

A more competitive second half eventually saw the Eagles find an equaliser through Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 82nd minute - tapping in from close range.

Scoring goals still remains a big concern for Oliver Glasner's side, with only Everton, Ipswich and Southampton netting fewer, but their resilience can't be questioned as they hung in against a strong Chelsea side to claim a share of the points.

The draw means that Palace are unbeaten in three, drawing two and winning one, and have lost just one of their last nine league outings.

Relegation is still a serious concern with just a six point gap to the drop zone, however, the potential of new arrivals this month to bolster their attack could bring about a greater positivity in 2025.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Crystal Palace fans - what did you make of the game?

Chelsea supporters, let us know your thoughts

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v West Ham

• Southampton v Brentford

• Brighton v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here