Crystal Palace star excluded from Aston Villa squad amid transfer talk and Eagles target Newcastle United man

Crystal Palace take on Aston Villa in Premier League action on Wednesday night with Oliver Glasner looking to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The Eagles are now without a win in their last seven matches across all competitions as a busy festive fixture period and Africa Cup of Nations absentees take their toll on the side. Crystal Palace have slipped to 14th in the table after 20 fixtures.

Glasner has been outspoken about the need for new arrivals in the January window this month and the arrival of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur for £35 million is an immediate boost. The winger made his debut against Newcastle United.

Crystal Palace star to be absent from squad against Aston Villa

Johnson’s arrival opens the door for Romain Esse to head out on loan and pick up more minutes. The 20-year-old was signed from Millwall a year ago and scored on his Eagles debut against Brentford, but has struggled for regular minutes since then.

The winger is a regular in matchday squads and has come off the bench in the last three, but Glasner has confirmed that Esse will be excluded from the team against Aston Villa. That comes amid growing speculation that the forward will head out on loan to Coventry City.

Taking to social media platform X, The Guardian reporter Ed Aarons wrote: “Glasner says "it looks like" Romain Esse will join Coventry on loan. Says he won't be part of squad against Villa. "It's better for him to go on loan and get some minutes...’”

Newcastle United bagsman targeted by Crystal Palace

Meanwhile, the arrival of Johnson does not mean that Glasner’s quest for added firepower is over. Chronicle Live report that Crystal Palace are ‘keeping tabs’ on Newcastle United striker William Osula this month.

The 22-year-old hasn’t played for the Magpies since November due to an ankle injury but that isn’t believed to have stopped ‘several clubs’ looking at the possibility of a January move. Frankfurt and Aston Villa are also linked.

Eddie Howe has outlined that there is ‘no expectation’ that the former Sheffield United forward would leave St James’ Park this month but didn’t firmly rule out an exit. He said: "I think the only way that we would consider that would be for his development and growth in terms of benefiting his career to play, but always with a view to him coming back to us."

In other news, The 4 Crystal Palace stars who could follow Oliver Glasner to Man Utd - opinion.