Although there have been quite a lot of permanent transfers during this window, normally it's harder to buy during January than the summer. Infant Steve Parish eluded to this not so long as ago, when he stated we were more likely to use the loan market.

With that being said are there realistic loans out there to help us strengthen for the second half of the season ?

Probably get some stock for these but some thoughts which come to mind.

Liverpool - Klopp was recently complaining he could not bring in anymore players due to the amount he has already. There is scenario which we could take advantage of :-.

The obvious one is Oxlade-Chamberlain at Liverpool, but I think he is well past his best and to be avoided. But the one which could a good job for us and is in the last 6 months of his contract is Naby Keita.

Chelsea - they have an over-abundance of players now. Forget Gallagher as he is coming back, whilst Loftus Cheek is still injured I believe. But there is one possibility who could do a job for us as holiding midfielder and simply break up play and move the ball onto the likes of Olise and Zaha. Timeoue Bakayoko.

He is frozen out Milan, as they don't want him and if he plays once more they have to payout for him. Chelsea now considering releasing him from his contract.

Not the most skillful of players, but has that physical presence we miss from Kouyate going.

Anyone agree ?

The loan market is the sensible option in January if you can find the right player. I agree that we should be looking at those clubs who have too many players and need to offload one or more until they can be sold or depart in the summer.

Chelsea are the obvious club for us to look at, given their sheer numbers of players. Basically, almost any CM they have who won't be getting much game time otherwise is worth a punt and that may even include Gallagher if the latest rumours re Chelsea bringing in a new midfielder are to be believed.

My guess is that we are so screwed that we can't even bring in a loan until we ship someone out. Probably why we are trying to offload Meteta.

I said it before il say it again Kalvin Philips .

The older he gets the fewer goals he scores. Big lump who contributes nothing to the overall play. I’ll be amazed if he scores more than two goals before the end of the season. We’re better off sticking with Mateta:

Another week of the window shuts. Clubs left, right, and centre have already done their business. Brentford, Southampton, Villa, Wolves, Leeds, Forest...all clubs of roughly our stature have improved their squads. We, on the other hand, desperate as we are to strengthen not only haven't signed anyone; we don't even get rumours of possible signings anymore. The only sign of life at Palace HQ is a meeting between the CEO and a minority owner who don't like each other and neither whom has much say in the transfer budget anyway. The fact that we're not in a relegation battle appears to be very much more down to luck than judgment since we seem determined to f*** up whatever progress the manager and players have made on the pitch. I for one am fast running out of patience with the miserable excuse that passes for leadership at this club.

Edited by sydtheeagle (20 Jan 2023 9.52pm)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.