Crystal Palace have reached an agreement in principle to sign a player after making a “decisive move”, according to a report.
Crystal Palace preparing for major summer rebuild
The summer will be one of the most complex for any club in the Premier League when they face Palace.
Oliver Glasner departs with a lasting legacy – a penalty shoot-out win over Liverpool in the FA Cup and Community Shield, and an historic Conference League quarter-final – but leaves behind a team in the midst of a major transformation.
A permanent director has not been decided yet, but work is reportedly progressing smoothly.
While names like Thomas Frank and Andoni Iraola are being evaluated for dugout vacancies, the recruiting plan remains close to blank.
Crystal Palace could use De Zerbi to replace Glasner
Crystal Palace are preparing to part ways with manager Oliver Glasner at the end of this season.
On the pitch, Adam Wharton is set to leave Selhurst, with Daichi Kamata’s contract due to expire this summer, while attracting admiring looks from some of the division’s elite clubs.
But amid the upheaval, chairman Steve Parrish took the first “decisive action” of the summer. It is accompanied by a compelling story.
Crystal Palace agree in principle with Haris Afzal
TEAMtalk’s Graham Bailey claims Crystal Palace have agreed terms to sign Haris Afzal from Queen’s Park. Haris Afzal is a 16-year-old Scottish youth international who has been compared to one of Glasgow’s most famous alumni in the club’s history.
Queen’s Park is famous for producing one of the greatest Scottish defenders of his generation, Andy Robertson, and Afzal has already been compared to the Liverpool legend.
Afzal, whose athleticism, direct running and aggressive intent from wide range led to comparisons to Robertson, is now on much the same trajectory.
The deal includes a sell clause and is worth around £40,000. This clause could be very advantageous if Afzal develops anything like his illustrious predecessor.
The complication is that they are not alone.
Southampton, who have one of the most highly regarded development paths in the Championship, invited Afzal for an extended trial period that built real momentum and looked like they were leading the race for much of the process.
They have also agreed a deal with Queen’s Park on similar terms and are continuing to press hard to sign him, so it appears the final decision will be left to the player.
Both clubs have strong claims to make.
Southampton’s track record of developing raw talent into senior footballers is truly impressive and will be a part of their pitch.
Palace, on the other hand, have an established Premier League platform, a chairman who has consistently shown a desire to invest in young talent, and if Afzal is anything like Robertson, they can point to a path that could lead to extraordinary places.
Celtic and Rangers have also been closely following the youngster’s development, but it looks like the teenager will follow Robertson’s template and head south of the border rather than remain north of the border.
Crystal Palace approach former Everton manager who called Thomas Frank ‘fantastic’
The Eagles are in the process of finding a replacement for Oliver Glasner.
