Crystal Palace look set to enter the January transfer window with reinforcements in mind as Oliver Glasner aims to strengthen his squad for the second half of the 2025/26 season.
The Eagles are still adjusting after losing star playmaker Eberechi Eze to Arsenal during the summer, and they expect to see captain Marc Guehi leave on a free at the end of the campaign. On top of that, interest is rising in both Adam Wharton and Daniel Muñoz, leaving Palace vulnerable to further departures. With that uncertainty hanging over the squad, Glasner hinted after Thursday’s defeat to Strasbourg that the club may need to act quickly once 2026 begins.
Palace eye Joe Willock as midfield decisions loom
Wharton and Daichi Kamada have formed Glasner’s go-to midfield pairing, but with the added demands of the UEFA Conference League, the Austrian coach recognises the urgent need for more depth.
According to reports from the Daily Telegraph, Palace are preparing a January move for Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock. The former Arsenal academy graduate earned a permanent switch to St James’ Park back in 2021 after an impressive loan spell, but he has slipped down the pecking order in recent seasons.
Now 26, Willock has managed just one Premier League start this campaign, following two seasons of extremely limited involvement. A mix of injuries and Eddie Howe’s reliance on a midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali has pushed him to the fringes. The rise of Lewis Miley and the arrival of Jacob Ramsey have only added to the congestion.
With Willock eager for more regular football and open to a return to London, Palace see an opportunity. His price is expected to be within reach, though Newcastle will try to recover most of the £21m they paid in 2021. Palace, however, may push to negotiate a fee closer to £15m.
Could Willock help fill the void left by Eze?
Eze’s departure removed one of Palace’s most influential figures, a player who delivered 40 goals in 169 matches and regularly dictated games from midfield. Glasner has responded by adopting a more pragmatic approach, using Wharton and Kamada as a stabilising double pivot to free up the wide threats of Muñoz, Tyrick Mitchell, Yeremy Pino and Ismaïla Sarr.
Willock, known for his speed and driving runs, could provide a much-needed dynamic option. His ability to operate in a three-man midfield or as an energetic link between midfield and attack offers tactical flexibility for Glasner. Positioned between Wharton, Kamada and striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, he could bring a more direct ball-carrying threat to a Palace side looking for new avenues of creativity.
With potential exits on the horizon and squad depth stretched, a move for Willock is emerging as a logical and timely solution for Crystal Palace heading into 2026.