Crystal Palace: Glasner’s Signing Johnson Wants Out 2026

Key Points

• Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace’s Austrian manager, is set to depart Selhurst Park at the end of his contract in June amid the club’s poor form this season.
• A recent 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday has slightly eased pressure on the 51-year-old coach.
• Glasner has expressed frustration over the club’s recruitment process, citing a lack of ambition and failure to adequately replace key players sold in recent transfer windows.
• Eberechi Eze departed for Arsenal last summer, leaving a void in creativity that the club has struggled to fill.
• Brennan Johnson joined from Tottenham Hotspur in January for £35 million, Palace’s second most expensive signing ever, to bolster attacking options.
• The 24-year-old Welsh winger has struggled, registering no goals or assists in 10 appearances for the Eagles.
• Reports from Football Insider indicate Johnson could push for a summer exit despite his recent high-profile arrival.

South London (South London News) February 24, 2026 – Crystal Palace face a turbulent summer with manager Oliver Glasner poised to leave at the end of his contract in June, while one of his final signings, Brennan Johnson, may already seek an early exit amid ongoing struggles at Selhurst Park. The club’s poor form this season has intensified scrutiny, though a narrow 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday offered brief respite. Glasner’s frustrations with recruitment, particularly the failure to replace stars like Eberechi Eze who left for Arsenal last summer, have come to the fore, casting doubt on Johnson’s £35 million future after just 10 goalless, assist-less games since his January move from Tottenham Hotspur.

What Led to Oliver Glasner’s Imminent Departure?

Oliver Glasner’s tenure at Crystal Palace appears headed for an unceremonious end, with the Austrian coach confirming his exit at the conclusion of his contract this June. As detailed in initial reports circulating among South London football circles, Glasner’s short-term future had been in serious doubt due to the Eagles’ dismal form throughout the 2025-2026 campaign.

The 51-year-old’s position stabilised marginally following Palace’s hard-fought 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers this past Sunday, a result that prevented further immediate crisis talks.

Glasner has not shied away from voicing his deepest concerns during his time at the helm.

One of his primary frustrations, as highlighted in club insider discussions, revolves around the recruitment strategy at Selhurst Park.

He believes the club has demonstrated a profound lack of ambition, particularly in failing to secure adequate replacements for top talents sold in recent transfer windows. This sentiment underscores a broader narrative of mismanagement that has plagued Palace’s ambitions in the Premier League.

Why Is Brennan Johnson’s Future at Crystal Palace in Doubt?

The spotlight has firmly shifted to Brennan Johnson, Glasner’s high-stakes January acquisition from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record £35 million fee—marking him as the second most expensive signing in Crystal Palace history.

The 24-year-old Welsh international arrived with expectations of revitalising Palace’s attack, especially after the departure of creative linchpin Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last summer. Eze’s exit has been sorely felt, with his flair and goal threat missed amid the team’s creative drought.

However, Johnson’s integration has been far from seamless. Since donning the red and blue, the speedy winger has featured in 10 matches without registering a single goal or assist. Critics have pointed to his waning form towards the end of his Spurs stint, a period marred by inconsistency that raised eyebrows about the wisdom of the transfer even before it materialised.

As reported by Football Insider, Johnson is now poised to push for an early exit, potentially just months after his blockbuster arrival. The outlet’s sources suggest his unhappiness stems directly from these struggles with the South Londoners, fuelling speculation of a swift return to the transfer market.

Football Insider’s coverage, drawing from well-placed club insiders, paints a picture of a player already disillusioned.

“Johnson could push for a summer exit at Crystal Palace amid Oliver Glasner sack latest,”

the report states explicitly, attributing the development to his inability to adapt to life under Glasner. This comes against the backdrop of Glasner’s own recruitment grievances, where the Austrian reportedly views the Johnson deal as emblematic of broader strategic shortcomings.

How Has Glasner’s Recruitment Frustration Shaped Palace’s Season?

Glasner’s dissatisfaction with Crystal Palace’s transfer dealings forms the crux of his tenure’s narrative. He has repeatedly lamented the club’s perceived lack of ambition, accusing hierarchies of not backing him sufficiently to offset the losses of marquee players.

Eberechi Eze’s summer move to Arsenal exemplifies this issue; the English attacker’s departure stripped Palace of vital creativity, a gap the January pursuit of Johnson aimed to bridge.

Yet, as per Football Insider’s detailed analysis, the Johnson signing has only amplified Glasner’s woes.

The £35 million outlay represented a bold statement, but the player’s barren run—zero goals or assists in 10 outings—has led to whispers of regret. Sources close to the club, cited in the report, indicate Glasner feels hamstrung by a recruitment model that sells high and buys low on impact.

“There will be plenty of changes at Crystal Palace this summer, including Oliver Glasner leaving the club,”

Football Insider notes, linking the manager’s exit directly to these systemic failures.

The Wolverhampton win, while a morale booster, does little to mask deeper issues. Glasner’s post-match comments, though not directly quoted in available reports, align with his known stance on ambition—or the lack thereof. Palace’s board now faces pivotal decisions, with Johnson’s potential push for the exit adding urgency to an already chaotic off-season.

What Impact Did Eberechi Eze’s Departure Have on the Squad?

Eberechi Eze’s transfer to Arsenal last summer reverberated through Selhurst Park, leaving a creativity vacuum that Glasner has struggled to fill.

The English forward’s artistry was a cornerstone of Palace’s attack, and his absence has coincided with the team’s slide into poor form. Johnson’s arrival was explicitly framed as a response to this loss, yet the Welshman’s adaptation issues have compounded the problem.

Football Insider underscores Eze’s irreplaceable role:

“Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal last summer, and the English attacker’s creativity has been missed.”

Palace turned to Johnson in January to “bolster Glasner’s attacking options,” but the move has backfired spectacularly. At 24, Johnson carries pedigree from Tottenham, but his “lack of form in the back end of his spell in North London” preceded a dismal Eagles stint. This chain of events has Glasner questioning the entire recruitment pipeline.

Who Is Brennan Johnson, and Why the £35 Million Price Tag?

Brennan Johnson, the 24-year-old Welsh winger, arrived at Crystal Palace from Tottenham Hotspur in a £35 million deal that stunned observers given his recent dip in form. Billed as Glasner’s big splash to rescue a faltering season, the transfer positioned him as the club’s second priciest acquisition ever. Expectations were sky-high: provide pace, width, and end product to offset Eze’s void.

Instead, Johnson has managed zero goals or assists across 10 appearances. Football Insider reports:

“The 24-year-old has failed to live up to expectations since making the move to Selhurst Park. He’s without a goal or an assist in 10 games for the Eagles.”

Some questioned the deal from the outset, citing his inconsistent Spurs finale. Now, with Glasner’s exit looming, Johnson’s camp appears ready to agitate for a summer departure, per the outlet’s insiders.

What Does This Mean for Crystal Palace’s Summer Plans?

Crystal Palace’s summer looms large with upheaval. Glasner’s confirmed departure in June signals the end of an era, exacerbated by recruitment woes and Johnson’s discontent. The Wolverhampton triumph offers fleeting hope, but underlying issues persist. As Football Insider summarises:

“Johnson could push for an early exit just months after becoming the second most expensive signing in the club’s history. His future is already uncertain amid his struggles with the South Londoners.”

The club must now rebuild its attack sans Eze, potentially sans Johnson, and under new management. Glasner’s critique of ambition rings true amid these sales and tepid replacements. Fans at Selhurst Park brace for change, but whether it brings elevation or further turmoil remains the burning question.

Broader Context: Glasner’s Tenure and Palace’s Premier League Fight

Oliver Glasner’s stint, though brief, has been marked by highs and profound lows. The 1-0 Wolves win alleviated sack pressure temporarily, but his contract expiry seals his fate. Recruitment gripes dominate his legacy: selling Eze without parity, then banking on Johnson’s unproven revival.

Johnson’s plight mirrors Palace’s challenges. At £35 million, he was Glasner’s gambit, yet 10 barren games have soured the deal. Football Insider’s scoop on his exit push electrifies transfer chatter, positioning Palace at a crossroads. As South London digests this, the Eagles’ hierarchy faces calls for bolder strategy to secure Premier League stability.