Crystal Palace's 25/26 collapse — and the 26/27 reset
Crystal Palace finished 15th in 2025/26 with 45 points — a major underperformance vs the prior season. Oliver Glasner continues. Eberechi Eze's rumoured Arsenal departure looms as the key 26/27 question; Strand Larsen has joined from Wolves to lead the attack. For Fantasy Premier League managers, Palace is a defensive-bargain pool with one specific budget pick that dominated 25/26 — Marc Guéhi at sub-£5.5m.
Marc Guéhi — the best points-per-million defender of 25/26
Marc Guéhi (projected £4.5-5.5m) was the FPL standout of 25/26: 150+ FPL points at sub-£5.5m — the best points-per-million of any defender in the league. Captain, set-piece target, Defensive Contribution earner under the new scoring tweak. He is the cleanest budget-defender starting CB pick for 26/27 — even if he leaves for a bigger club (rumoured), his next-club FPL price stays attractive.
Watch the transfer market for Guéhi confirmation. If he stays at Palace, he is mandatory at £5.0m. If he moves to a top-six club, he becomes a £6.0-6.5m premium defender at the new club.
Strand Larsen, Mateta, and the new Palace attack
Jorgen Strand Larsen joins from Wolves (Feb 2026 permanent) and is the new lead striker at a projected £6.5-7.0m. Glasner's 3-4-2-1 system has historically delivered 15+ goal seasons from his nominated No. 9. The Strand Larsen FPL case strengthens significantly if Eze stays; weakens if Eze leaves for Arsenal.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (£6.5m) is the backup pen-taker and forward alternative. Dean Henderson (£5.0m, captain) is the premium-budget GK pick. Eberechi Eze (£7.5m if he stays) is the most credible Palace attacking midfielder; if he stays, he is a budget-mid bracket pick at sub-10% ownership.
Palace's 26/27 ownership angle
Crystal Palace are 11/2 for relegation — mid-table expectation. The recommended exposure: Guéhi + Strand Larsen + Henderson is the cleanest "triple Palace" template if Strand Larsen lands the No. 9 role. Captain no Palace asset until GW10+.
The Eze decision is the structural 26/27 risk. If he stays, Palace's attacking output supports a Mateta or Strand Larsen captain pick in home games against bottom-half sides. If he leaves, the attack collapses further and only Guéhi remains FPL-relevant.