South London Press' Edmund Brack has explained how new Crystal Palace signing Daichi Kamada can replace their former star man Michael Olise, who left for Bayern Munich this summer.

Kamada has worked with and won the Europa League under the Eagles' manager Oliver Glasner at Frankfurt, and the Japan international has looked electrifying in pre-season, scoring in their most recent friendly.

How did pre-season go for Crystal Palace?

It has probably gone as well as it could have done, as they went unbeaten throughout the summer.

There were some questionable defensive mistakes against Crawley, where they let three in against a League One side, but I would say it has gone as well as any Crystal Palace fan could have hoped for.

There is not too much to read into during pre-season, but winning in America against West Ham and Wolves was a good benchmark for where the squad is at.

Daichi Kamada has settled in really well; Chadi Riad, too.

Losing Olise has been a real bitter blow for the squad and Oliver Glasner as he was formidable under him, but Kamada looks a real shrewd acquisition on a free transfer and Odsonne Édouard is scoring goals, so there have been some real positives to take so far.

Oliver Glasner turned things around pretty impressively after replacing Roy Hodgson in February. Is there a level of excitement that, if they pick up where they left off, it could lead to better things over the course of a full season?

I think so. The problem for Crystal Palace is that, with the model they work within, you are always going to see players linked with moves away to bigger clubs with much greater finances.

Olise left for Bayern Munich, Marc Guehi has been linked with Newcastle, Jean-Philippe Mateta has interest, as does Eberechi Eze - and Adam Wharton has only been there six months and is already being valued at £100 million.

That is a good core of the squad linked with moves away or with suitors following them, so there is always that looming feeling that, as soon as Palace start to build up a head of steam - as they did towards the end of last season - the best assets are going to be stripped away.

Glasner has always made it clear that, as long as the structure of the squad is in place, there will be the ability to get results. I think we saw towards the end of last season that, no matter who was playing or where, Palace could score goals for fun.

There is optimism that they could do well this season, but also the looming feeling that they have not replaced Olise yet and they need to spend to replace a player of his quality, because he is probably the most talented player to ever play in a Crystal Palace shirt.

As you have mentioned, Olise’s departure to Bayern Munich has been the biggest news on the transfer front at Selhurst Park, but what have you made of their window on the whole?

They have made good signings. Kamada has worked with and won the Europa League title with Glasner, which is nothing but good for the squad because he knows how the manager wants to play and can fit in seamlessly.

I think he could start as one of the attacking midfielders behind Mateta or Edouard at Brentford on Sunday, just due to the fact that, with Olise going, Kamada knows the style of play. He has never played Premier League football before, but he has played in Germany and Italy and scored goals everywhere, so he is a really good acquisition.

Riad came through at Barcelona, did really well at Real Betis last season, and was a player the sporting director watched intently. He did really well in pre-season, loves a tackle and, with three at the back, they are always going to need options.

They did have Ryan Sessegnon on trial, but I do not think he showed too much to the fact Palace had to throw a really big contract at him, so now he has gone to Fulham.

Palace’s squad is a little bit light, but they still have the core of the squad and Eze and Guehi just returned from international duty last week. The squad is slowly but surely coming together.

Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye on on Sunday?

It was Olise the past three times! But I am going to go for Adam Wharton this time around.

Everybody knows the quality he possesses; with his passing range, he can unlock defences, and he reads the game so well - he can pick out players nobody in the stands can even see.

He is a massive talent who has adapted to the Premier League with ease and is going to go on and do incredible things in his career. If you give him time on the ball, he will punish you.

How is Glasner likely to set up his side at the Gtech?

It is a three or a five at the back, depending on whether they are attacking or defending. It is a 3-4-2-1, so the wing-backs - likely Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz - will push forward to go into midfield.

Then there are two attacking midfielders behind the striker, which is likely to be Kamada and Eze behind Mateta.

The squad will be strong and Palace will be looking to get off to a winning start.

Five of the last six meetings have ended in either a 0-0 or 1-1 draw, with Palace winning the last one 3-1 in December. What’s your score prediction for the opener?

I do think Palace are going to win it this time around, just due to the fact they have had a good pre-season and the players know what the manager wants. I am going to go 1-0 Palace.