Crystal Palace have clear transfer plan amid major Christantus Uche problem in January
Christantus Uche’s time at Crystal Palace hasn’t gone to plan so far.
The Nigeria international moved to the Premier League on a season-long loan deal from Spanish side Getafe in the summer, but he has been little more than a bit-part player so far this term.
Uche has received limited football at Crystal Palace so far in 2025-26, and he is yet to start a Premier League game for the South Londoners.
Oliver Glasner’s side have the option to turn his loan deal into a permanent move for a fee of around £17.4million, and their plan is already clear in the early stages of the January transfer window.
Crystal Palace decision causes major problems for Getafe
Crystal Palace do not have a break clause in Uche’s deal, meaning that they have no way of backing out from the agreement that they reached with Getafe last summer.
However, they still look set to find a way of navigating their way around their purchase option for the forward.
The Eagles’ permanent move for Uche is only triggered when he starts 10 Premier League games, according to Spanish outlet Marca, and it is understood that Palace will only use him as a squad player to ensure they avoid reaching that mark.
The 22-year-old is still yet to start a league game for Crystal Palace, but that is in turn creating serious problems for his parent club.
Getafe filed their accounts in the summer with the £17.4m from the Uche deal deemed as “probable,” which helped them to make six signings in the latter stages of the window.
However, La Liga’s auditor has now corrected that to suggest that the £17.4m is “unlikely” to be received, prompting the league to alter the team’s salary cap and effectively “close the tap” on their funding.
Getafe to seek early Christantus Uche solution
Uche’s fate at Crystal Palace has been clear for several weeks already, but Getafe’s latest plight could see them push to try and secure a resolution for the issue in the January window.
The Spanish side have been left with a major obstacle preventing them from carrying out their January business, and while it is ultimately their own fault, they will surely be hugely unhappy with the situation.
While there is no break clause as part of the initial agreement in the loan deal, it would be no surprise to see Getafe try and reach an agreement with Palace to potentially cut the loan short this month.
That wouldn’t solve their financial issue at all, but it would provide them with a valuable reinforcement and a player who they know is capable of having an impact for them.
Glasner has used Uche from the bench on several occasions of late, but if a similar replacement could be sourced at Selhurst Park, then it may suit all parties to part ways.