As Matt Woosnam has discussed, Crystal Palace’s squad looks pretty thin — especially after confirmation of Chadi Riad’s serious knee injury.
That likely necessitates more cover at centre-back, possibly a loan —although the fact club captain Marc Guehi may leave in the summer means a permanent deal could be preferred.
Jefferson Lerma can cover there but will likely be needed in midfield given injuries to Adam Wharton and Cheick Doucoure, with Nathaniel Clyne, 33, the only current backup for Glasner’s first-choice defensive trio of Guehi, USMNT’s Chris Richards and Maxence Lacroix.
Esse fulfils the ‘versatile attacker’ brief but focus will continue on securing a left wing-back as competition for the omnipresent Tyrick Mitchell — Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf and Benfica’s Jan-Niklas Beste have been linked.
A central midfielder would be nice but I personally doubt Palace have either the time or finances to complete deals in all three positions in the next week.
For now, beleaguered and arguably under-supported manager Oliver Glasner will have to keep making do and mending, supplementing with promising but raw academy players like Justin Devenny, Franco Umeh, Caleb Kporha and possibly Mofe Jemide.
