Tuesday's transfer deadline day proved to be a relatively quiet affair across English football, but Crystal Palace made a significant splash by breaking their club record to secure the signature of Norwegian forward Jorgen Strand Larsen. Meanwhile, Arsenal faced a major setback in their search for a midfield replacement, and Burnley's Premier League survival hopes took another severe blow following a comprehensive defeat.
Palace Shatter Transfer Record for Strand Larsen
Crystal Palace concluded the January window with a major statement, completing the £48 million signing of Norway international Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The forward has put pen to paper on a substantial four-and-a-half-year contract at Selhurst Park, marking the most expensive acquisition in the Eagles' history.
The move materialised after Palace granted striker Jean-Philippe Mateta his wish to depart the club during this winter window. However, the French international's proposed transfer to Italian giants AC Milan ultimately collapsed at the eleventh hour. This development did not deter Palace from pursuing their primary target, securing the biggest deal of an otherwise subdued deadline day.
Strand Larsen arrives having netted 14 goals for Wolves during the 2024-25 campaign. Although he is yet to score a Premier League goal from open play this season, the Norwegian is confident he can rediscover his form to help steer Palace away from the relegation zone. "I'm really excited to come to Crystal Palace," Strand Larsen stated. "It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time now. I'm here to bring energy and goals, and to try to do my best for the club."
Arsenal's Search for Merino Replacement Ends in Failure
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta conceded that the club were "actively looking at options" to fill the void left by the injured Mikel Merino as the transfer window drew to a close. Despite their efforts, the Gunners were unable to secure a suitable replacement before the deadline passed.
Merino is expected to miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a fractured right foot that requires surgery. Arteta emphasised the need for caution, unwilling to risk leaving a gap in his squad for the crucial final months of the campaign. "When you lose a big player like this with four months to go, and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything we possibly can to see if a player is available, and if not, we keep what we have," the manager explained ahead of the deadline.
This setback comes as Arsenal prepare to host Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday. Holding a slender 3-2 aggregate lead, the Gunners will be aiming to secure a place at Wembley, but questions remain over who will deputise in Merino's absence in midfield.
Sunderland Hammer Burnley to Deepen Relegation Fears
Burnley's precarious position near the foot of the Premier League table worsened significantly after a dismal 3-0 defeat away to Sunderland on Monday night. The Clarets failed to register a single shot on target during the match, a statistic that underscores their ongoing struggles.
Sunderland, inspired by Habib Diarra on his first start since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal, were in commanding form. Diarra's effort deflected off Axel Tuanzebe for an own goal to open the scoring, before the midfielder netted his first goal for the club before half-time. Chemsdine Talbi sealed the victory with a superb finish into the top corner.
The result extends Sunderland's impressive unbeaten home league run to 12 matches, lifting them to eighth in the table. In stark contrast, Burnley are now without a win in 15 Premier League fixtures and remain second-bottom, a daunting 11 points adrift of safety.
Ronaldo Absent Amid Al Nassr Tensions
In other news, global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was a notable absentee from Al Nassr's Saudi Pro League match on Monday. The 40-year-old Portuguese forward, who had featured in every previous league game this season, was omitted from both the starting lineup and the substitutes' bench for his side's 1-0 victory at Al Riyadh.
Reports suggest Ronaldo is dissatisfied with the club's hierarchy, specifically concerning their transfer activity. It is believed he has grown frustrated with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which owns Al Nassr and several rival clubs, amid perceptions of preferential treatment in the transfer market for other teams.
Al Nassr's winter business was limited to the signings of 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem and Saudi striker Abdullah AlHamdan. The discontent was perhaps compounded by the announcement later on Monday that rivals Al Hilal had secured the signature of French legend Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad.
Looking Ahead: Carabao Cup and EFL Action
The football calendar remains busy with Arsenal hosting Chelsea in the pivotal Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. A place at Wembley is at stake, with the Gunners holding a narrow 3-2 advantage from the first leg.
Elsewhere, a full slate of EFL fixtures includes a crucial Championship relegation six-pointer between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday. Promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town and Hull City face tests against Portsmouth and Watford respectively, while Sheffield United welcome Oxford United.
