Crystal Palace are reportedly in talks to sign Millwall forward Romain Esse in January.
According to Standard Sport, the deal could see the teenager loaned back to the Championship club for the rest of the season.
Interest in Esse from the Eagles is no new thing. The 19-year-old was reported to have caught the attention of Palace in September. Alan Nixon reported at the time that they had been keeping a close eye on his development and were keen not to lose out on him to another top-tier team.
Around a month later, Nixon then stated that Palace were "stepping up their interest" in Esse. This followed a decent start to the season by the Millwall right-winger, who has now racked up three goals and one assist in 17 league appearances.
Romain Esse's 24/25 stats (Championship)
Apps
Goals
Expected goals (xG)
Assists
Big chances created
Source: Sofascore
He was originally viewed as a long-term project signing, but his development since the summer has made the Eagles consider him more as a move to make for the here and now.
Palace have had a struggling start to the season in front of goal and are short of options on the right side of their attack. They now appear ready to take the Esse purchase process to the next step with the Lions.
Crystal Palace in talks to sign Romain Esse
Standard Sport have reported that Millwall are now in talks with their Premier League counterparts over the sale of Esse, who Dougie Freedman, Palace's sporting director, is said to have watched him play on multiple occasions.
Dougie Freedman for Bolton Wanderers
The deal that is currently being discussed would see Esse go back on loan to Millwall for the remainder of the season but that is only if an agreement can be reached. There is a "sizeable" release clause in the 19-year-old's contract, which expires next summer, and Palace aren't the only club interested in him, as per the Standard.
The Championship has served as an effective recruiting pool for the Selhurst Park residents over recent years. Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, and Adam Wharton have all been purchased from the second-tier sides and subsequently succeeded. They will hope that Esse will also be added to that list.
Neil Harris - Romain Esse - Japhet Tanganga Related
["It's inevitable" - Millwall FC: Romain Esse & Japhet Tanganga fears raised ahead of January 2025](https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/millwall-fc-romain-esse-japhet-tanganga-fears-raised-ahead-of-january-2025/ ""It's inevitable" - Millwall FC: Romain Esse & Japhet Tanganga fears raised ahead of January 2025")
FLW's Millwall fan pundit has highlighted his primary concerns ahead of the January transfer window.
Millwall should be open to selling Romain Esse in January
Losing a well-performing academy product is something that no club wants to do. They're one of yours; someone that you have put thousands of hours into making them into the player that they are today.
Esse has repaid them on the pitch for the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into developing him. Now may be the time when he gets to repay them financially.
His output is not irreplaceable. Yes, it will hurt to lose him if they do agree to let him go in the new year, but what they will get in return could be a huge benefit to the club both now and down the road.