AliousCrystal Palace have quietly climbed to 15th place in the Premier League after a challenging start to the season, sitting on 21 points—five clear of the relegation zone. Under Oliver Glasner, the team has tightened up defensively, but their struggles in front of goal remain evident, with just 21 goals in 20 games, making them the fourth-lowest scorers in the league.
The departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich last summer left a creative void that Palace has yet to fill fully, despite the addition of Ismaila Sarr. January offers an opportunity for the Eagles to inject some much-needed attacking spark alongside Eberechi Eze.
Crystal Palace Transfer News
According to **BBC Sport**, Palace are closing in on the signing of Millwall winger Romain Esse. Millwall boss Alex Neil recently admitted it would take “significant money” to part with the 19-year-old, who has been a standout performer this season. Esse has featured in 26 games across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing one assist while amassing 2,165 minutes. A versatile talent, he’s played across the attacking midfield, left-wing, and right-wing positions.
In addition to Esse, Palace are reportedly interested in Liverpool’s Ben Doak, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, but Esse appears likely to be their first acquisition in this window.
Could Esse Be the Next Olise?
Before Olise’s £50m move to Bayern, the winger had a stellar 2023/24 season, racking up 10 goals and 6 assists in 19 Premier League appearances. Palace hoped Ismaila Sarr would fill the void, and while Sarr has contributed 4 goals and 2 assists in 25 games this season, the team still needs another attacking outlet to replicate Olise’s output.
Esse, dubbed “the Reading version of Michael Olise” by Ben Mattinson, is already showing signs of being a creative force. The teenager averages 2.28 successful take-ons, 1.21 key passes, and 3.13 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. These numbers highlight his flair, creativity, and willingness to challenge defenders, traits reminiscent of Olise during his Reading days, where he recorded 21 goals and assists in 73 appearances.
Although Esse won’t be expected to replicate Olise’s impact immediately—who tallied 41 goals and assists in 90 games for Palace—his ability to contribute off the ball, demonstrated by his tackles and interceptions, makes him a promising addition for Glasner’s side. With time and development, Esse has the potential to follow a similar trajectory to Olise, who earned a high-profile move to Bayern at just 22 years old.
Palace fans can look forward to Esse bringing energy, creativity, and ambition to Selhurst Park as the club continues to rebuild its attacking threat.
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