Palace prioritize right flank as January plans intensify
Crystal Palace's plans for January are starting to take shape and, amid talk of a reinforcements attack, the most intriguing detail in Standard The report reveals the club's interest in Bayern Munich right-back Sascha Boey. According to Standard Sport, Palace “have an interest in Bayern Munich defender Sascha Boy” with “sources expecting Boy to leave Bayern next month.” This combination alone takes the situation from mere curiosity to something more concrete.
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Oliver Glasner's wider range of tasks is well known. He is “keen to look at Crystal Palace's squad in the January transfer window” as Palace are “in the market for wide forwards and right-backs” and could be among the “busiest Premier League clubs during next month's transfer window.” However, Boi's profile addresses a very specific need.
Wide defender depth issues come into focus
The relevance of Palace on the right side is due to circumstances. Daniel Munoz is “currently sidelined with a knee injury that requires surgery” and his cover Nathaniel Clyne is “34 years old and out of contract in the summer.” In this context, the Boey looks less like luxury and more like structural reinforcement.
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Glasner's system explains thinking. He uses a 3 4 2 1 formation with two wide forwards positioned behind striker Jean Philippe Mateta, which places heavy physical and tactical demands on the full-backs. Palace's schedule adds weight, with them “reaching the quarter-finals of the League Cup, fifth in the Premier League table and projected to win the UEFA Conference League.” Depth is no longer optional.
Fights' availability matches Palace's ambitions
Boya's situation at Bayern creates a rare coincidence. A player with Champions League experience, potentially available mid-season and comfortable playing at the top level. The palace doesn't often find this market open in January. The Standard's report that “sources expect Bowie to leave Bayern next month” hints at a possibility Palace may be forced to explore.
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Glasner has n
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have ever been embarrassed to articulate their needs. After the Conference League defeat in Strasbourg, he said: “The second thing is [to improve in attack] buy a player in January.” While this commentary focused on the final third, the message was broader: the cast is small.
January window shaped by past departures
Recent history explains this caution. Palace were “criticized by large sections of their fan base for not adding more depth to their attack this summer”, losing Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard, and in August sold “star player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £67.5m”. This erosion left little room for error.
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In this sense, Boy feels symbolic. This move is not about putting out fires, but about equipping a team that suddenly finds itself competing on multiple fronts and needs players ready now rather than projects for later.
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This is exactly the kind of deal Palace fans have been clamoring for – targeted, position-specific and based on an immediate need. With Munoz injured and Clyne's contract coming to an end, the right wing-back has quietly become one of the weakest players in the team.
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Boi's potential availability seems timely. Palace sit fifth, are deep in the cup competitions and are showing real cohesion under Glasner. Supporters fear fatigue and injuries will undermine the momentum, as has happened before. Bringing in a player who has performed at Bayern level would send a signal that Palace are serious about continuing this game.
There will also be realism. Wages, competition and Bayern's conditions all matter. But Palace fans know that January isn't about perfection, it's about defense. Protecting results, protecting key players and protecting beliefs. If the fight is truly achievable, fans will expect the club to be decisive. After a summer of reticence and sell-outs, it feels like we have an opportunity to properly support the coach and see where this season might actually go.
