Crystal Palace are planning a major overhaul at the club this summer, with big changes expected with the playing squad and in the dugout.
Manager Oliver Glasner is set to depart at the end of his contract, with a number of candidates already being eyed as his replacement. Still, there are also set to be several new faces brought into Selhurst Park on the pitch too, with Marc Guehi having left in the January transfer window, and both Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta expected to move on in the summer.
The club's recruitment team are already setting plans in motion to bring players in, and that includes a very highly-rated young Scottish defender, who could arrive in a cut-price deal.
Crystal Palace Send Scouts for Osborne
Steve Parish
A key position to strengthen this summer will be central defence, and according to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, the club have sent scouts to watch young Hearts star Alfie Osborne.
The Scotland Under-19 captain was in action this past weekend against the Republic of Ireland, and the Eagles had their scouts present to keep a close eye on him as they plot a potential move to bring him south of the border.
The 6ft 5' defender is out of contract at Hearts this summer and is yet to find an agreement over a renewal, which has led to a number of Premier League clubs to take a close look at him.
Because of his age, any deal to take him away from Hearts wouldn't be completely free, but it's understood that Palace would only have to pay around £160,000 in compensation to complete the deal.
Crystal Palace Ahead of the Curve
Eberechi Eze in action for Crystal Palace against Liverpool in the Community Shield
Palace have always been very good at spotting talent before others, as they did with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Adam Wharton and others.
Osborne would be unlikely to come into the squad as an immediate option in the first-team, but they know how to develop players into being ready for those opportunities.
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT to share Osborne's strengths and weaknesses, and this was its response:
Strengths
Excellent physical presence (6’5”, strong frame)
Versatile: can play DM or centre-back
Good technical ability for size (“good feet”)
Strong mentality, attitude, and leadership traits
Weaknesses
Still very raw/inexperienced at senior level
Limited exposure to top-level competition
Likely developing mobility/agility due to size
Positional refinement needed (role not fully defined yet)
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