Palace like the look of a centre-backPalace like the look of a centre-back
Palace like the look of a centre-back | Getty Images
Crystal Palace have reportedly drafted up a defensive transfer wishlist amid the possibility of losing Marc Guehi.
Crystal Palace have a huge summer ahead as they look to become a side capable of putting together a solid run in the Europa League. It was a huge season for the Eagles, who won the FA Cup and secured qualification for next season’s Europa League while also achieving a very respectable Premier League campaign.
Oliver Glasner managed clear progress this season, and the reward will be the club’s first-ever European journey. Though, juggling European and Premier League football is not an easy task, and Glasner will know he needs to add strength and depth between now and the start of next season.
The window is already open - at least for now - with a special 10-day early window ongoing due to the Club World Cup, and we will still have the usual window that opens towards the end of June.
Palace will be looking to strengthen, but they also know they will face a battle to keep some of their best players, including Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, in particular. Guehi is entering the final year of his contract, while Eze clearly has the talent to make the step up to a title-contending team, and it’s getting more difficult by the year for Palace to convince him to stay despite his clear love for the club.
The Eagles would like to keep Guehi, but there does feel like there in an inevitability about his departure. The defender’s contract situation means Palace effectively have to sell him if they cannot agree a new deal, and there is likely to be interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United, who have both shown interest in the past.
The good news is that Palace have shown an ability to properly replace key players in recent years, and they did it at centre-back last year when they replaced Joachim Andersen for the impressive Maxence Lacroix. The caveat, however, is that sporting chief Dougie Freedman has moved on, so Palace will have a different direction this summer.
Palace identify Guehi replacement
Palace’s search for a Guehi replacement is reportedly three players long, and Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Juventus defender Tiago Djalo is a player the club are looking at.
Romano tweeted: “EXCL: Crystal Palace show interest in Juventus defender Tiago Djaló ahead of summer plans to bring in a new centre back. Djaló, expected to leave Juventus after loan spell at FC Porto. #CPFC have included his name in 3-men shortlist.”
Djalo is 25 years of age and he has experience in Europe having previously played for Lille and FC Porto, although he made just eight league appearances during his loan spell with the latter this season. Djalo has had a couple of big moves, but none of them have worked out.
He previously signed for AC Milan but never made a league appearance, while he has only managed one league appearance with current club Juventus. His best run came with Lille, where he made 78 league appearances, leading to his single Portugal cap. Djalo is valued at £6.7million by Transfermarkt, and Juventus paid £4.3million for him January of 2024.
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