'Palace have too much quality to avoid relegation'published at 15:58 2 February
15:58 2 February
Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown believes Crystal Palace have "too much quality" to be relegated from the Premier League this season.
"I don't see Crystal Palace going down with the manager they've got and the way they play. They will always grind the results out," said Brown on The Football News Show.
"Of course, there is some unrest talk about the banners, the manager and the future. How do you attract players when the manager is not going to be there long term?
"Adam Wharton will be delighted with the move, he is a good signing. I do believe Palace have got too much quality to avoid relegation."
Doucoure's absence 'increased the need' for Wharton dealpublished at 13:30 2 February
13:30 2 February
Image source, Getty Images
The long-term absence of Cheick Doucoure is what "prompted" Crystal Palace to move in on Blackburn Rovers midfielder Adam Wharton.
But the 19-year-old had already been on the radar of sporting director Dougie Freeman for a while.
"He [Freeman] has followed him for a long period of time, even last season, and had him flagged as player with great potential," said Hodgson. "The injury to Cheick Doucoure has increased the need for a player in that position with quality. That prompted us to go in for that position, but we have to accept he’s young and he doesn’t have Premier League experience.
"He has a learning curve ahead but he’s got an incredible margin for progression. It’s an excellent signing for the club in the short term and long term as he has a long career ahead of him."
Palace, who were the Premier League's highest spenders in the transfer window, were also in discussion with West Ham for winger Maxwel Cornet on loan.
"I thought for some time that it was going to be a possibility," added Hodgson. "But West Ham decided they weren’t prepared to let him go, so unfortunately that fell through, which is a pity because he would have been a great addition to our squad."
Hodgson on Eze, Olise and Whartonpublished at 13:02 2 February
13:02 2 February
Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before Crystal Palace's Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hodgson confirmed Eberechi Eze is "going shortly for a scan" after feeling tightness in his hamstring against Sheffield United.
He is "presuming and hoping" Michael Olise will be fine to play on Saturday as he was only substituted off as a precaution with "muscle fatigue".
Club captain Joel Ward "is getting close" to a matchday return and is expected to join in with first-team training from Monday.
New signings Adam Wharton and Daniel Munoz are available to play Brighton.
On midfielder Wharton, who joined from Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £18m, Hodgson said: "He has all the qualities for a player that we're looking for in that position. It’s an excellent signing for the club in the short term and long term."
Palace did pursue a deal for West Ham's Maxwel Cornet on transfer deadline day but "they weren’t prepared to let him go" in the end, which Hodgson described "as a pity."
He anticipates a difficult encounter at Amex Stadium where Brighton are unbeaten in nine Premier League matches: "The derby-type rivalry adds an extra kick to it.But whether that kick is there or not, whenever you go to play Brighton, especially away from home, you know that you are in for a tough game."
Brighton v Crystal Palace: Pick of the statspublished at 11:50 2 February
11:50 2 February
Having won this exact fixture 1-0 in March last season, Brighton are looking to win consecutive home league games against Crystal Palace for the first time since a run of seven between 1979 and 1988.
Palace have failed to win any of their past five Premier League games against Brighton since a 2-1 away win in February 2021.
Brighton are unbeaten in their past nine Premier League home games (W4 D5), since a 3-1 loss against West Ham in August. It is their longest run without a home league defeat since a run of 14 between September 2016 and February 2017, and their longest ever such run in the top flight.
Brighton had 42 shots without scoring in the Premier League in January, failing to find the net in all three matches. By comparison, they scored nine goals from just 24 shots in the FA Cup
Crystal Palace have won two of their past three Premier League matches, as many as in their previous 15 league games combined. They have netted three goals in both wins, having only scored three goals in one of their previous 23 league games, a 3-2 win over Wolves in September.
Michael Olise has been directly involved in at least one goal in each of his past five Premier League appearances for Palace (five goals, three assists). He could become the first Palace player to score or assist in six consecutive appearances in the competition should he do so in this match.
Wharton 'has real promise' under Hodgson's guidancepublished at 22:09 1 February
22:09 1 February
Crystal Palace needed something.
The Roy Hodgson situation had people thinking about what is going on, who is in charge of recruitment? And who is in charge of the money being spent?
You can't see Roy going a day past the end of the season so it's different with recruitment because you don't know who will be in charge next.
Adam Wharton is a great signing, he has got real promise and he's really nice on the ball. Somebody like Roy will be good for him.
I don't think they've overpaid, there's a definite player in there and this is what it costs at this moment in time.
He's comfy on the ball so I think he will slot into his position and with Roy you've got someone with an unbelievable eye for teaching people. He's had discipline so far at Blackburn but I think that will go to another level with a group of players who know how to get results.
Michael Brown speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
'These additions gives us more to build on come the summer'published at 22:08 1 February
The arrival of Adam Wharton continues the approach Crystal Palace have taken in the recruitment of players over the last few seasons. He is a much-needed midfielder that will hopefully provide something a little different and we are looking forward to seeing him link up with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
There are clearly other positional needs (left wing and striker in particular) but Wharton follows the arrival of Daniel Munoz, the first right-back that the club have signed in such a long time. It would be foolish to expect much more in the current climate, as bizarrely Palace are one of very few active clubs this window, but these additions gives us more to build on come the summer."
Wharton 'a coveted prospect'published at 21:57 1 February
21:57 1 February
After Crystal Palace completed the deadline day signing of Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers on a long-term deal, we asked you to have your say.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Bill: I'm pleased to have signed such a coveted prospect as Wharton. I'll be amazed though if he actually makes it into the first team immediately. We've bought more expensive and older players than him and they can't get a look in.
Nick: It looks as though Palace have made a couple of good signings this week! We just have to hope that Roy will give them a chance. It is frustrating that Franca has still not been given the opportunity to show what he can do!
Glen: Two good signings so far, I hope Roy gives them a chance and plays them and integrates them better then he has with Franca.
Graham: Great window for us so far with two positions which needed filling being filled. Adam and Daniel will be good buys. Can we get a good old-fashioned, poaching striker in though? That would be the icing on the cake, especially with the crosses Olise and Eze can put in. Come on Steve keep chasing even for a loan player!
'How much?' Can Wharton prove he is worth every penny?published at 21:05 1 February
21:05 1 February
Image source, Getty Images
Joe Bradshaw, BBC Sport
“How much?”
The words of Adam Wharton on Crystal Palace’s tongue-in-cheek signing video as the 20-year-old ambles into a pub and is shocked at the price of a pint in London.
It may also be what some Premier League fans are tempted to ask when, on a deadline day of remarkably minimal activity, a boy from Blackburn is the headline signing.
All he ever wanted to do was play for his boyhood club and he has managed it, alongside brother Scott, for the past 18 months.
Penny for his thoughts then as, after just 51 appearances in blue-and-white, he has headed off for pastures news.
For those unfamiliar with Wharton’s talents – I wrote about them on this page previously (31 Jan, 17:08). I noted he has shown himself to be utterly unfazed by the occasion, from his first kick on debut at Lancashire rivals Blackpool to impressing at Stamford Bridge in November.
His first job at Palace will be to get in the side, dislodging experienced Premier League veterans such as Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes, the latter of whom was once himself a teenage prodigy starring in the Championship.
In a dressing room of seasoned pros, not to mention the vast experience of Roy Hodgson, Wharton will be well equipped to learn the ropes. That is if there is time given Palace’s position in the wrong half of the table.
No matter. A player is worth whatever a club is willing to pay for them.
If Wharton goes on to fulfil his vast potential in a Palace shirt, £22m will soon appear an absolute bargain.
Palace record with players 'a big reason' behind Wharton arrivalpublished at 21:05 1 February
21:05 1 February
Image source, Crystal Palace Football Club
Adam Wharton says it is a "great honour" to play in the Premier League with Crystal Palace.
The 19-year-old midfielder is the Eagles' second signing of the season after joining on a five-year-deal.
Wharton's move comes after an impressive first season-and-a-half in senior football with boyhood club Blackburn Rovers, where he won their Young Player of the Year award for 2022-23.
"I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and to play for such a big club like Crystal Palace is a great honour," said the England under-20 international.
"The way they've brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me, and it's a big reason why I wanted to come here."
Chairman Steve Parish added: "I'm delighted that Adam, a player whose rapid development we have followed closely, has decided to join us at Crystal Palace.
"Adam's consistently impressive performances for Blackburn at such a young age have understandably caught the eye of many a club, but we believe Palace to be – as has so often been the case in recent years – the perfect place to harness his undoubted potential, and we look forward to working with him in the years ahead to do so."
Multi-club ownership helping Palace to player tradepublished at 17:44 1 February
17:44 1 February
Alex Howell, BBC Sport
With financial rules seeming to limit what clubs can do this window, clubs may look to use their multi-club ownership models to assist them with player trading.
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor owns the Eagles, Lyon, Botafogo and Molenbeek. Palace winger Malcolm Ebiowei has joined the latter and the Belgian club has already taken Tayo Adaramola on loan.
There could have been another deal done between the clubs. Towering Lyon midfielder Skelly Alvero, who has just joined Werder Bremen on loan with an obligation to buy, was also offered to Palace in this window.
Ebiowei heads to Belgium on loanpublished at 17:41 1 February
17:41 1 February
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace winger Malcolm Ebiowei has completed a loan move to RWD Molenbeek for the remainder of the season.
The 20-year-old - who signed a five-year deal with the Eagles in July 2022 - will join fellow Palace loanee Tayo Adaramola at the Belgian Pro League side.
Ebiowei spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull City where he played 12 times.
The former Derby player has also made five senior appearances for Crystal Palace.
'Agents haven’t been that busy'published at 16:42 1 February
16:42 1 February
I met a scout at a game against Brentford and when he mentioned his club, he said; "We’re frightened to death of breaking any rules, so it looks like we can’t do much at all."
That tells you everything.
Everyone is very limited - there are few ins and outs and a few swap deals but nothing significant.
Usually the big deals have a knock-on effect as it releases a couple and we get movement, but it’s been very quiet and agents have not been that busy.
I think there are lots of late deals to happen but will we see a bigger one? I don’t know.
Chelsea's Armando Broja seems to be getting all of the speculation at this point in the day.
Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Palace active in the January transfer market published at 16:01 1 February
16:01 1 February
Alex Howell, BBC Sport
Crystal Palace have been active in this window, acquiring Daniel Munoz from Genk, while the signing of Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton is getting closer.
Maxwel Cornet is another player of interest to the Eagles and West Ham have been made aware of this.
Cornet would give Palace some much-needed depth in attacking areas and take the pressure off Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.
Johnstone set for Palace staypublished at 15:24 1 February
15:24 1 February
Image source, Getty Images
Simon Stone, BBC Sport
There was definite Nottingham Forest interest in Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone but it now looks certain the England goalkeeper will remain at Selhurst Park for the rest of the season.
Johnstone has not abandoned hope of forcing his way back into Roy Hodgson's starting line-up and believes Palace is his best option just now.
Forest have turned to other targets and have agreed a fee of a about £5m with Strasbourg for their Belgian keeper Matz Sels.
Sels, 31, did spend two seasons at Newcastle United earlier in his career and joined Strasbourg in 2018.
Catch up on the midweek Premier League actionpublished at 10:10 1 February
10:10 1 February
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from the eight Premier League matches played over Tueday and Wednesday.
Your ideal final day of the transfer windowpublished at 07:57 1 February
07:57 1 February
On Wednesday, we asked you what Crystal Palace's ideal final day of business in the January transfer window would look like.
Here is a selection of your responses:
Josh: I think Palace need to finish the deal for Adam Wharton from Blackburn and maybe one more signing in the striker role that we have been so desperate for so many years. Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal even on a loan is a good move.
Vidal: I think Daniel Munoz will be a great addition. We now need to complete the signing of Wharton. The bonus would be if we could land Jack Clarke, or Hugo Ekitike... one can dream!
Gary: We have finally signed a right full-back. Looks like a central midfielder in Wharton is coming in. We still need a striker who can score 17-20 goals a season. Also, a coach who is willing to work and trust the young players in the squad.
Andy: Bring back Conor Gallagher as he fitted into the squad perfectly and was liked by fellow players and supporters.
Tom: We’ve needed a striker who will consistently score goals every season. We gained promotion in 2013 - we still haven’t bought one.
'It would probably be a mistake from West Ham'published at 07:56 1 February
07:56 1 February
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards tells the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast that Crystal Palace's rumoured interest in West Ham's Maxwel Cornet may be an indication that the Eagles are preparing for the departure of Michael Olise.
"Cornet leaving I would find that a bit of a shock, particularly because West Ham aren't going to bring anybody in so that may well not happen," he said.
"Crystal Palace know that Olise is probably going to go in the summer. I'm aware of at least five or six Premier League clubs being interested in him. Crystal Palace aren't going to be short of bids and aren't going be short of interest.
"When we spent the past couple of weeks saying West Ham desperate to improve their attacking areas because of injuries - I think letting their cover go would probably be a mistake. So whether West Ham put the brakes on that deal on deadline day, we'll have to wait and see."
The key details about transfer deadline daypublished at 06:01 1 February
06:01 1 February
When does the transfer window close?
The transfer window will close at 23:00 GMT on Thursday for the Premier League and English Football League, while in Scotland, the window will shut 30 minutes later at 23:30.
Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 17:00, Serie A at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00 and La Liga at 23:00 - but the Women's Super League transfer window already closed on Wednesday night.
The transfer window for the Saudi Pro League, where a number of high-profile Premier League players moved in the summer, closed on 30 January.
Can a Premier League player signed on deadline day play this weekend?
Under league rules, new signings are eligible for the next Premier League game if the club submit the required documents by midday on the last working day before that match.
Where can I see all the confirmed transfer deals on deadline day?
Only 15 players have been signed by Premier League clubs in January, with 10 permanent transfers, five loan deals and disclosed fees of about £50m.
It is a far cry from the past three transfer windows - January 2023 and the summers of 2022 and 2023 - which each set Premier League spending records.
At the same point last year, on the eve of deadline day, there had been 38 transfers worth about £550m - 10 times this year's amount.
How can I follow transfer deadline day on the BBC?
From 07:00 on Thursday, we will have a page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction and analysis. You cannot miss it as it will be the first thing you see on our football website.
You will also find regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport's social media channels, including X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
There will also be a special edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button from 22:00 until 23:30.
'Palace could build on positivity with another signing'published at 18:41 31 January
18:41 31 January
Alex Howell, BBC Sport
Crystal Palace have been active in the transfer market and have completed the signing of Daniel Munoz from Genk.
They are in talks to buy Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers and his signing would add much-needed cover in centre midfield. The Eagles have been lacking options in that area since Cheick Doucoure was ruled out with an Achilles' injury.
On top of that, Palace have struggled for goals this season and have only registered 14 at home all season. Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are the key men but they have both had injury issues this season. Their excellent performances in the match against Sheffield United showed what they can bring when they are both firing.
If the Eagles are able to bring in a winger or striker to supplement their attack, it would give their supporters something to cheer and the manager more options to choose from.
