Crystal Palace Transfer Plans Unaffected By Conference League Playoff, Says Glasner

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Oliver Glasner confirmed that Crystal Palace will not rethink January transfer plans, even with heavy injuries and a Conference League play-off ahead. A 2-2 draw with KuPS left Palace 10th in the 36-team league phase, adding two more fixtures to an already crowded schedule across domestic and European competitions.

Palace now prepare for two matches in four days, starting with Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday, followed by an EFL Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Glasner must manage these games while missing several key players and planning for a Conference League play-off next month against seeded opponents.

The Conference League format means Palace move into a knockout phase play-off rather than straight to the last 16. Palace will learn the opponents on January 16, with the draw seeded. They will be paired with a team that finished 23rd or 24th in the league phase standings.

Current standings indicate that Crystal Palace are set to meet either Sigma Olomouc from the Czech Republic or Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both clubs are experienced in European qualifiers, so Palace face two extra competitive fixtures at a stage when injuries and fatigue already affect squad options.

Against KuPS, Glasner changed the entire starting line-up from the defeat to Manchester City, making 11 alterations. George King, Dean Benamar and Joel Drakes-Thomas all made debuts, highlighting the reliance on squad depth. That rotation reflected the tight calendar and the need to protect regular Premier League starters.

The reshaped side initially struggled in the second half, when Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse scored twice in three minutes to give KuPS an unexpected advantage. Despite KuPS going down to 10 players, Crystal Palace could not turn dominance into a winning goal, even with several senior names introduced from the bench.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell, Marc Guehi and Will Hughes all came on as substitutes as Palace chased a late breakthrough. The visitors pushed aggressively but failed to convert pressure into a decisive strike. Glasner later accepted the result, suggesting that the main frustration was tactical information given away ahead of the Leeds match.

Crystal Palace Conference League campaign, injuries and absences

Glasner has to navigate four competitions at once, as Crystal Palace remain involved in the Premier League, EFL Cup, FA Cup and the Conference League. That workload comes while several first-team regulars are ruled out or away, leaving the squad stretched at an important point of the season.

Daniel Munoz and Daichi Kamada are both sidelined until the new year, removing important options in defence and midfield. Cheick Doucoure is also unavailable, while Ismaila Sarr is away with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations. The absence of these players increases pressure on rotation choices during the busy festive and early January period.

Crystal Palace Conference League plans and January transfer window

Despite these absences, Glasner stressed that the KuPS result and extra fixtures would not change previously agreed transfer priorities. The head coach described the recruitment approach as already defined, with plans in motion, and said that discussions with the club hierarchy remain focused on moderate additions rather than a major overhaul.

Glasner also indicated that the injury list strengthens the case for adding depth without prompting panic. He reiterated that the squad still competes on four fronts and suggested that targeted arrivals could support that schedule. However, Glasner does not want negotiations affected by public speculation over specific positions or numbers of targets.

"I don't want to talk about it because if everyone knows it gets more expensive, everything is on track, Glasner told TNT Sports. The club are working hard to get these deals done, we trust them, it's to support the team, we have stayed in four competitions, I think we need one or two players."

Crystal Palace Conference League schedule impact on Leeds and domestic focus

The rotated line-up against KuPS also served a domestic purpose, with Glasner aiming to keep probable starters fresh for Saturday. That decision, though, has removed any mystery about team selection. Opponents can now prepare knowing which regulars were specifically held back for Elland Road.

"We rested a few players tonight because we knew we would need them for a game in a few days, Glasner added. Leeds now know our starting XI because none of the players who started today will play on Saturday. It will be a competitive game, we'll show a big fight and hopefully come back with three points."

Crystal Palace therefore move into January balancing fixture congestion, injuries and a tight Conference League tie, while keeping transfer activity measured and targeted. Glasner’s comments suggest confidence in the club’s planning, with the main objective to remain competitive in all four competitions despite a demanding schedule.