Crystal Palace’s January has unraveled at pace.
After lifting the FA Cup last season and enjoying a brief taste of European football, Oliver Glasner’s squad has been steadily stripped back.
The summer sale of Eberechi Eze was followed this month by captain Marc Guéhi’s move to Manchester City, while leading scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta is also expected to depart before the end of deadline day.
With survival now the priority, Palace are streamlining elsewhere too — and another squad member is set to head out, albeit without the same headline impact as recent exits.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to Join Stoke
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is closing in on a loan move from Crystal Palace to Stoke City, according to Sky Sports News.
The agreement is understood to be a straight loan until the end of the season, with no option or obligation to buy included in the deal.
Rak-Sakyi, 23, has attracted widespread interest throughout the window. Clubs including Celtic, Monaco, Lille and Millwall have all tracked the winger, while Swansea City came close to landing him earlier in January before talks broke down over personal terms.
A switch to Celtic also collapsed late in the summer window, with the move falling through on deadline day despite advanced discussions.
Once described as a “top player” with “great potential” by former Palace teammate Guéhi, Rak-Sakyi now looks set for a Championship challenge as Stoke seek to add creativity and direct running to their wide areas for the second half of the season.
For Palace, Rak-Sakyi’s departure underlines the reality of a difficult rebuild mid-season, while Stoke gain a hungry, technically gifted winger eager to prove himself with regular football. It may not grab the headlines — but it could prove a smart move for all parties involved.
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