Crystal Palace
Premier League • England
Crystal Palace to scupper Aston Villa transfer plan with move for perfect Wilfried Zaha replacement
Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in beating the likes of Aston Villa, Leeds and West Ham to the signing of signing Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer.
The Eagles have made a new striker a top priority for the upcoming transfer window and view the 26-year-old former Fulham and Celtic man as a perfect candidate for the role.
Dembele is set to leave Lyon when his contract expires this summer, allowing him to join a new club on a free transfer.
Football Insider reports that Palace are already preparing a contract offer for the French forward. However, they are facing a number of rivals in the chase for the forward, most namely Villa.
Unai Emery is also looking to add more firepower to his side as he continues to push an incresaingly impressive Villa team towards European qualification.
The report adds that Palace are willing to offer wages to Dembele that match some of the club’s top earners, in order to try and secure his signature.
The Selhurst Park outfit are on the hunt for a new forward as they prepare to replace talismanic winger Wilfried Zaha.
The 30-year-old looks increasingly likely to quit the club when his contract runs out this summer. And even though Palace are still in talks with Zaha’s representatives over extending his stay, Football Insider adds that it’s ‘very likely’ that the attacker will leave.
Dembele has proven in France that he can score goals in a high-quality league, notching 22 times in 36 games last season.
However, this time around he’s found it much more of a struggle, only notching three times in 27 outings – although he has not been first choice after Alexandre Lacazette’s return to Lyon last summer.