Crystal Palace plot big transfer push after FA Cup glory as Europe awaits | OneFootball

Oliver Glasner to reverse course after trimming Eagles squad as they seek to cope with additional fixture demands

Greatest day: Crystal Palace sealed their first-ever major trophy by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley

Nick Potts/PA Wire

Crystal Palace plan to expand the size of their squad with several new signings this summer, ahead of their first season in Europe.

Palace won the FA Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday, beating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley.

Sealing the club’s first piece of major silverware saw them also secure a spot in the Europa League league phase for next season.

Manager Oliver Glasner made a point of deliberately shrinking the size of Palace’s first-team squad last summer, as he has historically preferred to work with smaller groups.

However, that decision will be reversed over the coming months as the Eagles target squad depth in order to compete in another competition.

The Palace hierarchy are aligned with Glasner in wanting to bring in two new defenders this summer, with the expectation remaining that England centre-back Marc Guehi will be sold. He has one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park and there is no prospect of him signing a new one.

Champions League-chasing Newcastle, who tried to sign him last summer, are one of a number of clubs still keen on the 24-year-old.

Glasner will also push to add two attacking players to Palace’s forward line.

The club are in a period of transition in the recruitment department following sporting director Dougie Freedman’s departure to join the Saudi-based Diriyah Group and may instead insist that only one attacker is needed if they can avoid losing the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta and FA Cup hero Eberechi Eze.

Palace are aware they will need to be reactive in the market if players are sold. Last summer, the sales of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and Jordan Ayew to Leicester prompted them to sign Ismaila Sarr from Marseille.

After the FA Cup final, Glasner was asked whether Palace’s Europa League berth makes the club a more attractive prospect for potential signings this summer.

“More attractive, of course,” he said. “Crystal Palace is in the Premier League so is [already] very attractive. Let’s see what the transfer window will bring.”

The Eagles announced last week that club captain Joel Ward will leave the club after 13 years once his contract expires in June.