Crystal Palace have moved quickly to address their attacking crisis by securing Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand on loan until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent. The deal comes as France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has told the club he wants to leave. According to Bbc.com.
Palace Land Guessand on Loan Deal as Attacking Options Dwindle
The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international arrives at Selhurst Park after a challenging first season at Villa Park, where he managed just two goals in 21 appearances across all competitions. Guessand only joined Villa from Nice for £26m last summer but found himself surplus to requirements following Tammy Abraham’s £18.25m arrival from Besiktas this month.
Palace’s urgent need for attacking reinforcements has been compounded by significant departures and uncertainty within their squad. The club sold England defender Marc Guehi to Manchester City, while Jean-Philippe Mateta has informed the club of his desire to leave and was deemed “not in the right place” to face Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s crucial Premier League fixture.
Boss Oliver Glasner, who will also exit Palace when his contract expires in the summer, acknowledged the club’s transfer activity by confirming they are working “24 hours a day” to bring in further new players. Chairman Steve Parish described Guessand as an “exciting talent” who the club are “confident will flourish” as they look to “push on in the Premier League and in Europe.”
Guessand expressed enthusiasm about his move despite Palace’s precarious position, currently sitting 15th in the table but eight points clear of relegation. The forward, who has scored three times in 19 international appearances including one at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, believes the squad possesses the quality to achieve their objectives.
The loan signing represents a calculated gamble on a player who demonstrated his potential at Nice, where he was voted Player of the Season for 2024-25 after scoring 12 goals as the French club finished fourth in Ligue 1. His arrival provides Palace with much-needed depth as they navigate a challenging second half of the season.
