Crystal Palace and player in agreement over January transfer – Original move “necessary”, but not wanted

Crystal Palace and Christantus Uche are willing to part ways in the January transfer window, if they can agree on it.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo. They cover the situation today and how the midfielder’s move to Crystal Palace was built on shaky foundations from the get-go.

They explain that Uche could be departing Crystal Palace early. He’s only played 67 minutes of football since arriving from Getafe in the summer. That loan move is set to be made permanent if the Nigerian starts 10 matches.

That seems unlikely to happen, and both the London club and the player would be willing to negotiate an early return. The feeling is that he’s not in Crystal Palace’s plans.

On one hand, that would suit Getafe. Manager José Bordalás repeatedly stated that he didn’t want to see the player leave in the summer. He argued it would leave the Spanish side in tough position. Ángel Torres, Getafe’s president, insisted it was only being done because it was “necessary”.

His exit, alongside Omar Alderete’s to Sunderland, allowed them to register six players at the last minute, but it was one they and Bordalás very much didn’t want to do.

On the flip side, Getafe were very much depending on the money from the permanent move to Crystal Palace. Not getting that sum, around €20m, would leave them in a difficult position financially.

It remains to be seen what happens in January. But the growing idea is that Uche could return early in January. That’s after nobody really wanted the transfer to happen in the summer anyway.