EVANN GUESSAND: TO BRING OR NOT TO BRING?
On-loan Ivorian forward Evann Guessand proved to be a crucial part of Crystal Palace’s late season resurgence and UEFA Conference League triumph last year. With his loan deal and buy-option clause expired, his time in SE25 did seem to be well and truly over. However, recent reports indicate that the Eagles haven’t taken him off the shortlist completely, and a move to make him a permanent signing may yet materialize. But is it a sensible idea, or should Guessand remain a one-hit wonder in red and blue?
AUTHOR’S OPINION
I’ll begin with my personal thoughts on that matter, which boil down to a resounding yes, we should bring him back. Although his production wasn’t anything to write home about, he excelled on the ‘eye-test’, and had a special something about him that led one Palace fan to state on X that “Guessand feels like a mix of every Palace winger ever”(@jamiemcw). Emotions aside, let’s consider the facts.
HIS TIME AT PALACE
Crystal Palace signed Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa in January of 2026, after missing out on his signature to the Villans the previous summer. His powerful presence in the frontline coupled with his on-ball skills and eye for goal made him an excellent target for the Eagles, leading them to double down on their pursuit of him.
The Ivorian came to Palace having struggled for minutes in his first months in the midlands, hoping to get back to the form he exhibited in the 2024/25 season at French club Nice, where he registered 23 g/a in 42 appearances, helping his side to a fourth place league finish.
Upon arrival at Selhurst Park, Guessand went straight into the starting line-up, and quickly bore fruit, assisting the winner away at rivals Brighton. Over the next month, he would start most games, scoring crucial goals in victories over Wolves and Zrinjski Mostar.
Guessand would continue to start in nearly every match up until April, when an injury would confine him to substitute appearances for the rest of the season. He finished the season in South London with two goals and an assist, and a buy-option clause for a reported £28 million.
WHAT HE COULD BRING
Guessand is a player who can play anywhere across the front three, and whose physicality in the number 10 role would differentiate him from the other options in that position.
His age is also a positive factor; Guessand is only 25, making him, as the John F. Kennedy campaign ad goes: “Old enough to know, and young enough to do.”
To look at a possibly less significant aspect regarding his compatibility with the squad, he is already familiar with the club, and fits into a large francophone contingent within the dressing room.
https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/premier-league/articles/crystal-palace-1-0-wolves-guessand-strikes-late-on-to-boost-embattled-glasner-2026-02-22
MANAGERIAL COMPATIBILITY
More importantly, would he fit into Pierre Sage’s vision? Sage’s most used attacking-midfielder last season at Lens was Florian Thauvin, so we’ll use him as a reference point for what Sage wants out of that position.
Thauvin had an impressive season, recording 14 goals and 10 assists. This shows that Sage likes his 10s to be able to set up their teammates as well as find the net for themselves.
He is also an impressive dribbler, able to get himself out of tight situations. He often looks to carve in through the right half-space to find room for a shot on his favored left foot.
While not entirely reliant on it, that left foot accounted for nine of his eleven non-penalty goals last season, and everything converted from the spot. He recorded one goal each with his right foot and his head, pointing to a lack of emphasis on ambidextrousness and aerial threat.
To make a long story short, Sage likes his attacking-midfielders to provide both assists and goals; function well with the ball at their feet, and cut in from wider positions. He looks to them to create chances and take shots, as Thauvin ranked in the top 20th percentile last season in both categories amongst others in his position according to FotMob’s statistics.
Guessand fills several of these categories. He is a very capable dribbler, and works well coming in from wider positions. Over the last two seasons, Guessand has put up 17 goals and 11 assists, showing that he can indeed both provide for himself and for others.
He unfortunately falls short where shots and chance creation are concerned, ranking among the lowest percentiles in both categories. However, this may not matter so much, as Guessand would surely not be thought of as the number one scoring option in this Palace squad.
He makes up for his sub-par creative statistics in other areas, ranking in the top 20th percentile for aerial duels won and defensive contributions, with the latter being quite important in a Palace side who often find themselves out of possession.
While not a perfect profile for Sage’s style, Guessand could surely be a very useful addition.
THE CASE AGAINST
We must also, of course, consider the elements which could make a potential move unappealing.
To state it plainly, 3 g/a from 14 games isn’t anything spectacular. Taken down to a per-game average and multiplied to reflect a 48-game season, that works out to about 10 g/a over a season in all competitions (back-of-the-napkin maths but you get the picture).
And with a £28 million price tag attached to him, it seems a bit much. Especially when you consider what the Eagles could get for less money, as several links have already emerged.
In addition to this, there is also the consideration of the pre-existing depth. Although it is not exactly impressive, there are already several others in the squad who play his position.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
There are most definitely two sides to this story, and it is one which is still being told. With more than a month left in this summer’s transfer window, there will be much time for speculation and consideration where Guessand is concerned. Ultimately, despite the drawbacks, there is a strong case to say that Guessand should be on sporting director Matt Hobbs’ list of priority transfers.
