Guessand could return to Villa if Crystal Palace cut loan short

Crystal Palace may seek to offload Evann Guessand in the new year after the forward reportedly fell out of favour under manager Pierre Sage. According to Football Insider, the 25-year-old has been absent from matchday squads for five consecutive games and is no longer considered part of the south London club's plans.

The publication states that a disagreement between the Ivory Coast international and his manager has accelerated his decline at Selhurst Park. Sage is said to have publicly questioned whether the attacker is performing to the required standard, leaving him well down the pecking order.

Guessand was also omitted from Palace's Europa League squad for the current campaign. He initially arrived at the club on a temporary basis in January before securing another short-term move during the summer window, though doubts about his suitability for English football have persisted throughout his time there.

A scouting analyst quoted by Football Insider suggested the forward has struggled to make a consistent impact since arriving in the Premier League, noting that his influence at both of his recent clubs has been limited. The same source indicated that unless his attitude changes, he risks spending the rest of the season on the sidelines.

Any potential exit cannot take place immediately, as the summer transfer window closed on 1 September. Premier League clubs are unable to complete signings or sales until the market reopens on 1 January 2027, meaning his situation will remain unresolved for several months.

While the report frames a possible departure as a return to Aston Villa, the club announced his permanent transfer to Crystal Palace on 12 August. As such, any move back to the West Midlands would require a fresh agreement rather than the cancellation of a temporary arrangement.