Crystal Palace have been very quiet in the summer transfer window, but Oliver Glasner is desperate to bring in new faces having lost star man Eberechi Eze to Arsenal
Crystal Palace have compiled a six-man wishlist as they desperately attempt to sign new players before Monday’s transfer deadline – but they have pulled out of the race to sign Leicester star El Bilal Khannouss.
Olivier Glasner, who led the Eagles to an historic FA Cup triumph last season, has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his squad all summer. But they have been slow once again to react, with just £2million spent so far on two players – second-choice goalkeeper Walter Benitez and back-up full-back Borna Sosa.
The club face Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad FK on Thursday night in the second leg of their Conference League play-off, holding a narrow 1-0 first-leg lead – and are preparing for the prospect of more fixtures in the group phase of the European competition. That increases the pressure to add more numbers to the squad – even more so now that star man Eberechi Eze, the scorer of the winning goal in the FA Cup final, has joined Arsenal in a £67.5million move.
Marc Guehi could be next to leave, with the club captain out of contract next summer. Liverpool are desperate to sign the England international, but chairman Steve Parish has held firm on his valuation.
And while Parish has been occupied attempting to keep his best players at Selhurst Park, he’s also been busy fighting UEFA in the courts. Now he has finally turned his attention to signing new players.
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Palace are keeping tabs on six players and are working on several deals. Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher – who had a successful loan spell in south London four years ago – is wanted. However it’s been claimed that the England man is happy in Spain and earns a good salary, although Atletico may be forced to sell due to PSR obligations and could accept a fee of around £40million.
Palace are also interested in Villarreal forward Yeremy Pino, with the Spain international seen as a replacement for Eze. The 22-year-old is in no rush to leave his current employers but the Premier League club haven’t been put off, and are hopeful of bringing his £40m price tag down.
The club are no longer interested in El Khannouss but if the Pino move doesn’t work out, Christos Tzolis at Bruges is a back-up option. RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner is also on the shortlist.
Palace also want to add numbers in defence, in anticipation that Guehi leaves, and have enquired about Manchester City star Manuel Akanji. The Switzerland international also has interest from Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen.
Another centre-back option is Toulouse’s Jaydee Canvot, who is also wanted by Aston Villa. Palace are bracing themselves for Guehi’s exit – but Glasner has already warned the club’s hierarchy that they are in “big trouble” if they lose the captain before recruiting reinforcements.
Speaking after the first-leg win over Fredrikstad last week, the frustrated manager said: “I just know if Marc leaves and he’s not available for Fredrikstad we will have big troubles.
“It’s pretty clear, we can’t register anyone, so from my side he has to stay.” Asked if he was referring to just the trip to Fredrikstad or the whole season, Glasner said: “We played with Jefferson Lerma in the back today.
“He’s a midfield player. We have no centre-back available at the moment, and if Marc leaves, OK, maybe I will try my boots, because I was a centre-back. This could be an option. I will think about it.”
Glasner had earlier emphasised his predicament in an interview on Channel 5 where, asked about the importance of hanging on to Guehi, said: “We have to. Honestly, we have to, especially for the second leg.”
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