Crystal Palace manager has called for reinforcements as Ismaila Sarr is set to leave to play for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Oliver Glasner ‘needs’ a new forward for Christmas, but the Crystal Palace manager fears he will be too busy to buy his wife Bettina a present this December.
The Austrian’s five-game unbeaten streak ended with a 2-1 defeat in the UEFA Conference League in Strasbourg on Thursday night.
And the FA Cup winners are looking to strengthen their squad with Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr expected to miss up to a month at the African Cup of Nations. The competition begins on December 21st in Morocco.
Asked if he would like to bring in a new attacker in January, Glasner said: “I think we need to do that. Ismaila Sarr will also be leaving the team. He is the only player who can make runs at the back and test his profile.”
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“So I think maybe we have to have this profile again. The other guys on the bench are a different profile as well, so we need players who can stretch our defense and I hope that happens.”
Sarr has scored 10 goals for the club. He has already scored four goals in three games against Liverpool this season. Newcastle’s former Arsenal star Danny Willock has already been linked with a return to London.
When asked if signing a new striker would be key to being competitive in the second half of the season, both domestically and internationally, Glasner said, “Yes.”
The Austrian has publicly expressed his frustration at the delay in Palace’s transfer business in the summer of 2024, which means they will lose captain Marc Gech at the end of the season. Glasner is also out of contract and will likely attract interest from other clubs if an extension cannot be agreed at Selhurst Park.
More directly, Palace have a busy December with eight games, including hosting Manchester United on Sunday and facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday 23rd.
“We moved from the 24th to the 23rd,” Glassner said. “This means that the 24th and 25th will be a day off for everyone, so all the players can celebrate Christmas with their families. “Of course before and after things get busy, Christmas is family time.
“But I don’t have time to do Christmas shopping. So, fortunately, I have the full support of my wife. She is responsible for all this. And of course we play at the Emirates at 8 o’clock on the 23rd.”
“In continental Europe, we celebrate Christmas Eve on the 24th. So I’m busy. So I’m going back to Austria on the morning of the 24th. Of course, I hope everything is ready and then I can go to church and have Christmas dinner with my family. But no, I don’t have time to buy presents and all that.”
“It’s a challenge. I have to find a present for my wife because she can’t or shouldn’t buy herself a present. But it’s going to work out, we’re used to this rhythm. Even last year we played on the 26th, so we’ll find a solution.”
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