Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
It has been a rough summer for Crystal Palace so far.
The joy of winning the FA Cup last season has largely been swept away by UEFA demoting the Eagles from the Europa League to the Conference League – a decision made due to the alleged involvement of John Textor at both Crystal Palace and Lyon.
Now, a development involving Newcastle and Liverpool adds salt to the wounds, as the Premier League duo fight over Hugo Ekitike.
Why Crystal Palace will feel frustration as Liverpool and Newcastle battle for Hugo Ekitike
Newcastle have just seen a £70m bid rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt for the Frenchman – who scored 22 goals in 48 appearances last season.
Liverpool are also eager to sign Ekitike – and have warned Newcastle they will push for his signature if the Magpies refuse to sell Alexander Isak to them.
Crystal Palace are not directly involved in this transfer saga, although the south Londoners could have been, had things worked out differently in September 2023.
As Sky Sports revealed at the time, Ekitike was keen on a deadline day move to Selhurst Park after PSG told the striker he was surplus to requirements.
However, PSG spent £77m to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt on that same deadline day, and the move seemingly involved a gentleman’s agreement – Ekitike joined the Bundesliga side as his replacement the following January on loan with a €16.5m (£14m) option to buy, which was later triggered in April 2024.
Fast forward to now, and the Reims-born frontman is an £80m target for both Liverpool and Newcastle, having scored 26 goals in 64 appearances for the German outfit.
Had PSG let him move to SE25, however, Crystal Palace could have had an £80m striker on their hands for just £14m.
Crystal Palace could be further implicated in Liverpool’s hunt for a new striker
If Liverpool end up failing to sign either Isak or Ekitike, they could look to raid Crystal Palace directly.
French news outlet Foot Mercato claimed on Monday that Liverpool have held talks about signing Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace, after he scored 17 goals in 46 appearances last season.
If that move happens, the Eagles would arguably feel even more devastated than they would at the sight of Ekitike sealing a lucrative switch to either Tyneside or Merseyside.