Crystal Palace made two major signings in the summer 2024 transfer window, bringing in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah as part of their attacking solution while replacing Fulham-bound star center back Joachim Andersen with Chelsea’s underappreciated Trevoh Chalobah.
While Chalobah isn’t necessarily going to be immediately as good as Andersen, he is a useful addition to the back line and could prove to be a better solution for Crystal Palace in the long run with a greater resale value, owing to his younger age.
Meanwhile, Nketiah is a gamble at 30 million pounds, but the talented striker has the ability to become one of the top strikers in the Premier League, especially with a strong supporting cast around him.
Although Crystal Palace were unable to hold onto their best player, Michael Olise, they did ward off strong interest from Premier League rivals to keep two players who are legitimately among the best in the league in center back Marc Guehi and attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze.
After an eventful summer transfer window, let’s take a look at how Crystal Palace could line up going forward in the 2024/25 Premier League season with both Trevoh Chalobah and Eddie Nketiah in the XI.
Defense
GK Dean Henderson – Dean Henderson is a bit too up-and-down for most people’s liking, but the reality is that when he is “on”, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Hopefully continued competition from former Arsenal man Matt Turner brings the best out of Henderson.
CB Marc Guehi – It looked like Marc Guehi was bound for Newcastle, but Crystal Palace admirably stuck to their guns and didn’t lose the top center back, who only enhanced his reputation further with a strong European Championship tournament for England.
CB Trevoh Chalobah – Trevoh Chalobah can play pretty much anywhere across the back line – and play well, at that. It’s a bit surprising that 1) Chelsea wanted to sell him so badly and 2) A club like Roma or AC Milan didn’t sign him sooner. Chalobah should go straight into the Crystal Palace XI, but the real key will be seeing how much he offers the Eagles on the ball.
CB Chris Richards – The former Bayern Munich prospect is a solid, versatile, and, quite frankly, highly underrated defender who fits the ethos of this Crystal Palace side perfectly. He thrives in this right-sided center back role.
Midfield
LM Tyrick Mitchell – The defense-minded Tyrick Mitchell can mark the best attackers in the Premier League when he’s in the mood, and he’s put his body on the line to make so many highlight-reel goal-line clearances during his time with the Eagles.
CM Jefferson Lerma – A brilliant free agent signing last summer, Jefferson Lerma is one of the better defensive midfielders in the Premier League and is a great, experienced partner for Adam Wharton to anchor the Palace midfield.
CM Adam Wharton – Adam Wharton isn’t just the next big thing in English football. The 20-year-old has already arrived. A strong defender who can create from deep, Wharton has the quality to become the best progressive 6 or 8 in the Premier League.
RM Daniel Munoz – Daniel Munoz is massively underrated and might honestly be one of the best overall players in the Premier League when looking at his 2023/24 production alone. The Colombian averaged a whopping 5.6 combined tackles and interceptions per game at Copa America, too.
Attack
AM Daichi Kamada – Daichi Kamada didn’t settle in at Lazio, but there is no denying the Japanese international’s silky-smooth creative skills and eye for the fianl pass. He is the wild card in this Crystal Palace XI.
AM Eberechi Eze – Eberechi Eze is a monstrous presence in the middle of the attack, shuttling the ball every which way and showing a knack for consistently delivering end product, whether that is a goal or an assist. He is now Palace’s biggest asset with Olise in Bavaria.
ST Eddie Nketiah – Eddie Nketiah, like so many Arsenal center forwards, is more of an all-arounder than a pure goal scorer, but in the second half of the 2022/23 season, he did show glimpses of being a real fox in the box for the Gunners. He just needs consistency, which he can only get through playing time. Crystal Palace have Jean-Philippe Mateta as a possible option, but the ball is clearly in Nketiah’s court to shine after a 30 million pound investment.
