Crystal Palace are looking to get their transfer business done swiftly this summer thanks to several time constraints ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The Eagles are already working hard to identify new recruits ahead of the new season, with West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone the latest name linked with making with a move to south London. Palace are also reportedly in talks with French side Lens over a potential move for midfielder Cheick Doucoure, while there has been interest in Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
There will be hopes in SE25 that these deals can conclude quickly, with the new Premier League season already just under 11 weeks away. The first game of the new season takes place over the weekend of August 6 and 7, with the earlier start time caused by football’s first-ever winter World Cup.
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The Qatar tournament will disrupt Europe’s club season, meaning teams will take a historic break of play during November and December while the international teams gather in the Middle East. Teams in the Premier League will squeeze in 16 rounds of fixtures before the competition stops on November 13, not resuming again until Boxing Day following the World Cup’s conclusion.
This all means that pre-season will have to run to different timings this year, with the summer transfer window opening on June 10 and closing on September 1. Fixture release day will be on Thursday, June 16 meanwhile, meaning Palace have just three weeks before they find out exactly who and when they’ll be playing when the season kicks off.
As such, the club will want their squad in order in good timing, but there’s another, even earlier, scheduling impact that will force their hand further. Palace’s pre-season tour takes place in Asia and Australia this year, with the Eagles first facing Liverpool in Singapore on July 15 before playing Manchester United in Melbourne on July 19 and Leeds United in Perth on July 22.
By the time they come back, there will be just two weeks before the season commences, meaning Patrick Vieira will want all his players - new signings included - available for those matches to see where his team are at ahead of the new campaign. Players who arrive after the tour will have much less time to integrate into the team before the season begins, with some potentially joining after the first matchweeks have already been played.
Last summer, Palace made late moves in the window for Will Hughes and Odsonne Edouard, with both having to then wait for over a month before getting their chance in the team. Sometimes, circumstance means deals can’t be completed until the final days of the window, but it’s almost always better to have a full squad assembled as early as possible.
