I have to admit, the rumour mill has been tapping me on the shoulder all week. As a regular fan who keeps one eye on the table and the other on the transfer gossip, I cannot ignore the noise around Crystal Palace and Jorgen Strand Larsen. It is early 2026, the winter window is the big topic in every group chat, and Palace are apparently one of the clubs keen on the Wolves striker. According to the latest chatter, Wolves are open to offers for the Norwegian forward in January, and West Ham are also sniffing around. Cue the dramatic music...

Why Palace are looking for attacking help

Oliver Glasner's side have had another impressive season so far, but I think there is a fair argument that the hectic European schedule has stretched them. When you are playing Thursday and Sunday, you need fresh legs, and Palace have found it difficult to rotate too much because the squad lacks options. That is not a criticism of the starters; it is just reality. If you ask me, attacking reinforcements are top of the agenda, and the club seem to be working on deals before the window gets even busier.

Palace are only six points off the top four as the campaign moves along. That is close enough to dream, isn't it? A strong second half could push them into Europe again, and that is exactly why the next few weeks matter. You cannot chase a top-four finish with a tired front line and a bench full of maybes. The Eagles need bodies, but they need the right bodies.

Strand Larsen: risk, reward and a Wolves rescue mission

Strand Larsen is an interesting one. He has been described as incredible, yet this season has been tough for him at Molineux. Wolves have struggled badly, and at the halfway stage they are still waiting for a Premier League win. That is the kind of season that drags everyone down, including a striker who feeds on service and confidence. The former Celta Vigo man showed last season what he can do, though, and a January departure could be on the cards.

Would I take him at Palace? Hold your horses... I would want to know the fee and the wages first. But the logic is clear. He is a proper centre-forward, he can hold the ball up, and he gives Glasner a different option when the games come thick and fast. West Ham being interested only makes it more spicy. If two Premier League clubs are circling, Wolves will probably enjoy a small bidding war. No smoke without fire, as they say.

The Brennan Johnson twist

Then there is the Brennan Johnson story, which has added a proper twist to the week. Word is that Palace have reached an agreement with Tottenham to sign the Welsh international for £35m. That is a serious number for a club like Palace, and it tells me the board are willing to back Glasner. The catch? Johnson has not decided whether he wants to make the move. Everton and Bournemouth are also keen, so this is not a done deal just because the two clubs have shaken hands.

Spurs and Palace have apparently been talking for several weeks, and Tottenham made it clear what it would take to get a deal done. Palace have now agreed to that package, but the player holds the cards. I get it. Moving mid-season is not easy, especially when you are a Welsh international with a point to prove. Still, from a Palace perspective, Johnson fits the profile: quick, direct, comfortable in wide areas, and capable of adding goals. If he says yes, Selhurst Park will be a very happy place.

My fan verdict

Here is my honest table of the two situations:

Target	Club	Reported situation	My take
Jorgen Strand Larsen	Wolves	Wolves open to January offers; West Ham also interested	A smart buy if the price is right, but he needs service and confidence
Brennan Johnson	Tottenham	£35m agreement with Palace; player yet to decide; Everton and Bournemouth keen	Exciting fit, but Palace must wait for the player's green light

I am not going to pretend I know exactly how this ends. Transfer windows are messy, and the rumour mill loves a plot twist. But the direction of travel is obvious. Palace want attacking reinforcements, they have European ambitions, and they are trying to be proactive. Whether it is Strand Larsen, Johnson, or someone else, the next few weeks could shape their season.

So, yes, I am refreshing the gossip far too often. I am a fan; that is what we do. But if Palace land one of these deals, I will happily admit the noise was worth it. And if neither happens? Well... I will be back here, staring at my phone, waiting for the next tap on the shoulder.