Crystal Palace are preparing to compete in the Europa League for the first time in their history
Oliver Glanser’s Crystal Palace are going where no Eagle has flown in their 119-year-history, after spearheading the team into next season’s Europa League with a stunning 1-0 triumph over Manchester City.
Eberechi Eze’s Wembley winner marks the South London side’s first major honour and signals the start of an exciting new era as Glasner, a man that won the competition with Frankfurt back in 2022, aims to follow in the footsteps of both Manchester United and Tottenham by going into the latter stages of Europe’s second best competition next term.
Next season offers fans a whole host of exciting away adventures on the continent for the first time - and really puts the club on the map when it comes to transfer recruitment ahead of what promises to be an intriguing summer window. With that in mind, 3AddedMins asked AI, who it expects to see Crystal Palace target this summer - and here was its intriguing response.
AI predicts double Premier League arrival
AI expects Crystal Palace to make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock. The Eagles will need plenty of squad depth to cope with the demands of European football and are likely to target Willock, due to his experience on the continent with Arsenal and Newcastle United.
Willock arrived at Newcastle in the summer of 2021 for just over £20m after a productive loan spell which saw him score in seven consecutive games for Steve Bruce’s relegation-threatened side. He went on to form part of the team which reached the Champions League in 2022/23 under Eddie Howe but has since then struggled with numerous different injuries.
He’s been fit for the majority of this season but has struggled for a regular run of games, with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton often being preferred.
Football Insider suggest a £20m move could be made for Willock back to the capital and potentially add fresh legs, energy and dynamism to the midfield.
AI also anticipates a move for Ben Chilwell. The England international has only played 11 times across all competitions for the Eagles but could come in as a possible replacement for Tyrick Mitchell when his contract expires. He’s thought to be surplus to requirements at Chelsea despite winning the Champions League with the Blues in 2021.
Crystal Palace sign £30m forward and Champions League duo
AI expects Crystal Palace to be in the market for a striker and claims Emanuel Emegha will be a key target if Jean Phillipe Mateta does leave this summer. Emegha has scored 14 times in 27 appearances for Strasbourg side that finished in seventh position and only outside Europe on goal difference. He’s a Netherlands Under-21 international and valued at around £30m, as per Sun Sport.
Elsewhere, the club are also expected to sign centre back reinforcements amid uncertainty surrounding Marc Guehi’s long-term future as he enters the last year of his contract.
AC Milan defender Strainja Pavlovic has been sounded out as one potential target while another name that could enter the fray on a season-long loan deal is suspected to be Portuguese international Tiago Djalo.
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