By BOBBY MANZI

Published: 16:30, 8 February 2026 | Updated: 16:35, 8 February 2026

Decision makers at Crystal Palace will feel extremely chuffed with their transfer business after winning 1-0 at arch-rivals Brighton on Sunday.

Palace, winless in 12, averted crisis, pulling nine points clear of the relegation zone and leapfrogging Brighton in the table.

Club-record signing Jørgen Strand Larsen, who joined from Wolves for £48million on Deadline Day, was chucked in from the start by Oliver Glasner. His arrival was supposed to spell the end of the Jean-Philippe Mateta era at Palace, as the Frenchman was off to AC Milan in a £30million deal.

Yet a knee injury he has been coping with – and played through – since the November international break caused his move to collapse at the eleventh hour, failing a medical to complete his dream move to Serie A.

For the Palace faithful, it was tough to take. Their affection for him had already evaporated, booing him during their 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last month in what was expected to be his final appearance for Palace.

Mateta...