Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace journalist drops transfer prediction

|
Image for Crystal Palace journalist drops transfer prediction

The Athletic’s Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam believes the club could still target a young centre-back before the transfer deadline.

The Eagles have embarked on an aggressive summer of recruitment after appointing Patrick Vieira as their new manager.

Having lost a number of players on free transfers due to their expiring contracts, including central defenders Mamadou Sakho, Gary Cahill, and Scott Dann, Palace have signed defenders Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen, along with midfielders Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher and Jacob Montes, and goalkeeper Remi Matthews.

Will Vieira last the season at Palace?

Yes

Yes

No

No

But Woosnam believes that the club may remain in the market for another defensive addition, having lost three first-team centre-backs.

Indeed, he believes that, having signed both Andersen and Guehi, Palace could look to bolster the ranks with a younger central defender, naming a player such as 19-year-old Armel Bella-Kotchap, who plays for VFL Bochum and was previously the subject of a bid from Palace, as a potential addition.

He said: “I’m not sure really. I think perhaps you sign a younger centre-back, again, for a relatively little fee. Last season, Palace were looking at Armel Bella-Kotchap, for example, I think he was at Bochum.

“I think someone like him would have come in, not necessarily first-team ready, having not played a lot of senior games.”

Share this article