Premier League: Crystal Palace Possible XI For 2025-26 Season
Crystal Palace fans remain in a joyous mood more than two months after winning the FA Cup. The memories of the 2024–25 season will live on forever in the hearts of Palace supporters, as it marked the club’s first-ever major trophy.
Oliver Glasner was appointed in 2024, following Roy Hodgson’s retirement, with the usual task of avoiding relegation scraps while keeping the Eagles competitive in the Premier League.
Despite the usual lean budget, the Austrian manager delivered the oldest cup competition to the Crystal Palace fans, setting a legacy that would be difficult to surpass by future managers to come.
Heading into the 2025-26 Premier League season, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss is hoping for more commitment from the Palace board, though, lamenting a thin squad that could be stretched even more with the inevitable exit of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
Winning the FA Cup means qualification for Europe. Although complications over ownership have meant a demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League, Oliver Glasner will be desperate to put a competitive squad in place in time for the start of the Premier League and UEFA Conference League.
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Goalkeeper
Dean Henderson’s heroics for Crystal Palace en route to winning the FA Cup are still talked about. The 28-year-old looks to have banished his injury nightmare and is expected to remain the undisputed number 1 at Palace despite the presence of Argentine Walter Benitez and 31-year-old Remi Matthews. Matt Turner will not return for a second loan spell after heading out to Olympique Lyonnais in France.
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
Defence
Oliver Glasner is expected to continue with a back five even as questions persist over the future of Captain Marc Guehi. The England international has one year left on his contract and is unwilling to sign an extension. A move to Liverpool appears his most likely destination. Still, the Reds have other priorities on Alexander Isak, a situation which continues to unsettle the Crystal Palace fans as it drags on.
Palace is interested in Sporting Lisbon’s Centre back, Ousmane Diomande, but is unwilling to match the €60m valuation on the Ivorian. Inter Milan’s Yann-Aurel Bisseck is also the subject of interest, with Palace prepared to spend £28m, according to Goal.
Moroccan centre back, Chadi Riad, who was signed from Real Betis last summer, is back after a long-term Knee Injury and has targeted an instant return to first-team duties with Palace and Morocco.
A fully fit Riad is expected to take his place in the heart of defence alongside Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. Jefferson Lerma could be drafted back into his preferred Midfield role by adding either Diomande or Bisseck. Ben Chilwell has returned to Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan, so Tyrick Mitchelle and impressive Colombian Daniel Munoz are set to keep their place on the Left and Right wingback roles, respectively.
Defence: Tyric Mitchell, Chris Richards, Lacroix, Chadi Riad, Munoz
Midfield
Palace will also welcome the return of Cheick Doucoure. The Malian was out for most of last season, and though they will be careful as he eases back into first-team duties, they will be joyful with the tough-tackling midfielder who has shown glimpses of his true capability.
Eberechi Eze continues to be linked with Arsenal. The Gunners are not prepared to pay £68m release clause, but Eze is thought to be desperate for the move. Japanese Daichi Kamada could be pushed further up the pitch to accommodate a fit Doucoure alongside 21-year-old prodigy Adam Wharton.
With Jeffrey Schlupp’s exit on a free transfer to Norwich, the team will have a different outlook in attacking midfield.
Midfield: Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Doucoure, Ismaila Sarr,
Attack
Jean Mateta scored 16 goals for Crystal Palace last season and was named the club’s player of the season. It is no surprise that he continues to be linked with an exit, but is expected to remain at Palace for next season.
Palace are expected to demand a sizeable fee for the striker with two more years left on his contract. Eddie Nketia and the returning Odsonne Edouard are expected to challenge the Frenchman for the role of leading the Eagles’ attack.
Crystal Palace Likely XI:
Henderson; Munoz, Chadi, Richards, Lacroix; Mitchell, Wharton, Doucoure, Kamada; Sarr, Mateta,
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