Crystal Palace: Eagles still short on target’s valuation
Even after keeping hold of Michael Olise, who penned a new deal at the club, Crystal Palace are still seeking attacking reinforcements before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The London club are yet to replace Wilfried Zaha, who left as a free agent at the end of last season, before joining Galatasaray. As the season gets up and running, the Eagles have reportedly turned to Sporting CP and Issahaku Fatawu to potentially solve that problem.
What’s the latest on Issahaku Fatawu to Crystal Palace?
According to A Bola, via Sport Witness, Palace have already seen an €10m (£9m) bid rejected for winger Fatawu, with Sporting valuing their young winger at €15m (£13m), plus a 20% sell-on clause.
Given that Fatawu originally signed a contract which included a reported release clause of €60m (£50m), clubs could still consider Sporting’s current price an incredible bargain. As things stand, if the reports are to be believed, Palace are just €5m (£4m) short of the winger’s valuation, potentially making the deal doable and “negotiations” remain “ongoing”.
From the player’s perspective, as per A Bola, he is comfortable staying at Sporting even though he is not currently in the plans of manager Ruben Amorim.
Palace could still convince Fatawu, but with the transfer window slamming shut in just under two weeks, the London club may need to act fast.
Should Crystal Palace sign Issahaku Fatawu?
A deal for Fatawu doesn’t come without its risks, considering that he has failed to impress enough at Sporting since making the move to Portugal. Nonetheless, it is arguably a risk that is worth taking for Palace, who could help the 19-year-old realise his potential.
Prior to his move to Sporting, the winger attracted plenty of praise, with Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig saying: “Issahaku Abdul Fatawu would be an amazing signing for ANY top European academy. 17 years of age. Top prospect.”
Kulig also went onto say: “I watch or maybe try to watch every AFCON U17/U20 but it’s very rare that a player like Fatawu makes an impression like that. Rough diamond. Enormous potential.”
With that said, Fatawu could be an ideal Zaha replacement at Selhurst Park this summer. Statistically speaking, too, the teenager has shown more than enough potential in limited minutes for Sporting’s first-team.
According to FBref, in barely the total minutes of two full games, Fatawu made eight progressive carries and completed four progressive passes, whilst also completing six take-ons. The numbers suggest that Palace are targeting a player simply waiting to burst into life.
The London club could do with reinforcements, that’s for sure, having signed just two players this summer, in the form of Jefferson Lerma and Matheus Franca. Keeping hold of Olise will be seen as a major positive, but whether the Frenchman is enough to keep Palace afloat remains to be seen this season.
Roy Hodgson’s side got off to an ideal start, even without a busy summer, by defeating newly-promoted Sheffield United 1-0. They will hope that the result is the start of a solid run of form to get the season underway, with or without Fatawu.
Liverpool could still be in the market for midfielders this summer after completing the surprising signing of Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £16m.
The Anfield side lost out to Chelsea for both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, creating a sense of panic as midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho has previously completed transfers to Saudi Arabian sides.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szobsozlai had been landed earlier in the window, but both are creative individuals and the more industrious, defensive department still needs bolstering.
As such, Liverpool may well be inclined to swoop back in for former target Manu Kone, with fresh reports rising regarding the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder.
What’s the latest on Manu Kone to Liverpool?
According to reliable German outlet Sport Bild, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has reignited his interest in the tough-tackling ace, with the 22-year-old on the club’s radar as early as January.
Reports from June suggested that Gladbach would be willing to discuss a deal, though they have set a valuation of £35m for the Frenchman, and now it’s up to Liverpool to meet the demands.
How good is Manu Kone?
The seven-cap France U21 international, aged 22, has been in fine fettle over the past year in the German Bundesliga, recording an average Sofascore rating of 6.86 across 30 matches last season, notably completing 87% of his passes and averaging 2.5 tackles per game.
Hailed as a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kone also ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 18% for blocks per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his progressive presence – a by-product of his technicality and imposing physicality – and his tenacity as a defensive force,
The statistics-led site lists Caicedo as a comparable player to the £32k-per-week machine, which only strengthens the argument that Liverpool should complete a swoop to rival Chelsea’s new star, who indeed joined the Stamford Bridge side for a British-record £115m earlier this month from Brighton & Hove Albion, rejecting the Merseyside outfit.
Having arrived on English shores for £4.5m from his homeland side Independiente del Valle in 2021, Caicedo chalked up 53 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring twice and registering three assists.
Heralded as the “crown jewel” of Ecuadorian football by football expert and historian Enrico Castro-Montes, the 21-year-old machine ranks among the top 5% of midfielders for pass completion, the top 13% for passes attempted, the top 14% for tackles and the top 15% for interceptions per 90.
In the Premier League last year, Caicedo also recorded an impressive average rating of 7.08 as Brighton secured Europa League football, completing 89% of his passes, also averaging 2.7 tackles per match.
With this superlative level of ball-playing and defensive ferocity in the middle, it is no wonder Liverpool so desperately attempted to hijack the Blues’ transfer bid.
The similarities are there, and if Klopp succeeds in signing Kone, Liverpool could well find the robustness and brutish presence they need to strengthen their squad ahead of a desired renaissance.
