Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion could be set to battle it out for the signature of an “elusive” forward, and the Eagles have now made the first move.
Palace eyeing new forward amid struggles going forward
Palace have the fourth-worst attacking record in the Premier League this season, having found the net on just 33 occasions, with Oliver Glasner making it clear his number one priority is making sure his side are solid at the back.
Glasner said: “Our foundation was always the defence, everything we achieved here. Having the two best years in Crystal Palace history is related; the foundation is the great defence and conceding very few goals.”
The lack of goals can be partly explained by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s dip in form, with three-time France international scoring just twice in his last 14 Premier League outings, and the striker has also spent time on the treatment table due to a knee injury.
Mateta is expected to leave Selhurst Park in the summer transfer window, which means it may be necessary to bring in a replacement, and the Eagles recently identified Derby Country star Patrick Agyemang as a target.
However, a new winger is also of interest, and Steve Parish & co are aiming high, having identified a forward who has impressed in the Champions League at times this season as a target…
According to a report from Takvim (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace have now been in contact with the agents of Galatasaray star Baris Alper Yilmaz, who has also been approached by Premier League rivals Brighton and Newcastle United.
Palace are set to send scouts to watch Yilmaz in action in the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday night, with the Turkish side looking to book their place in the final eight, after winning the first leg 1-0.
The three clubs are set to continue monitoring the Turk between now and the summer, at which point it is highly likely Galatasaray will receive offers of some description.
The 25-year-old has been in exceptional form this season, chipping in with six goals and ten assists in 23 league outings to help catapult Galatasaray to the top of the table.
Virgil van Dijk may be worried about the Turkey international ahead of Wednesday night, having said during Euro 2024: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”
Crystal Palace could certainly do with bringing in a player capable of scoring goals, having failed to find the net in their last two matches, and Yilmaz may be an exciting option, having amassed 28 goals and 22 assists in 134 Turkish Süper Lig outings.
The new Eze & Olise: Crystal Palace line up move for £20m Mateta replacement
Crystal Palace are ready to dip into the EFL for their next superstar signing.