Crystal Palace have made replacing Marc Guehi a key summer transfer priority.
Palace want added quality and depth in central defence after selling Guehi to Manchester City for £20million in January and the club have started drawing up a list of potential targets.
Guehi was out of contract at the end of the season so chairman Steve Parish and the Palace board decided to recoup a fee for the England international midway through the season rather than risk him leaving as a free agent once his deal expired in June.
Efforts were made to sign a replacement for Guehi after he left, but failure to agree a deal that worked for all parties and acknowledgement the summer market is often safer footing meant the only recruits were attacking signings Brennan Johnson, Evann Guessand and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Palace had enquired about Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez and Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell in the centre-back position.
The Eagles are left with four senior centre-backs: Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards, Jaydee Canvot and Chadi Riad.
Defensive midfielder Jefferson Lerma, who has filled in at centre-back on occasion, is out of contract this summer, though Palace retain an option to extend his stay by a further year.
Under-pressure head coach Oliver Glasner has favoured a back three during his two years in charge, which has increased the need for depth in central defence.
While Glasner is leaving Selhurst Park in the summer when his contract expires, the Palace board recognises the importance of strengthening at centre-back following Guehi’s departure, regardless of the formation Glasner’s eventual successor comes to adopt.
Palace face Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar at Selhurst Park on Thursday in the second leg of their Conference League knockout play-off round.
A disappointing 1-1 draw in Mostar last week leaves them in need of victory to progress to the round of 16.
Be the first to comment