Crystal Palace plot fresh transfer bid to beat Chelsea to £21m Wilfried Zaha replacement

Crystal Palace are going head-to-head with Chelsea for the signing of Flamengo attacker Matheus Franca.

Crystal Palace are prepared to submit a fresh bid for Flamengo’s Matheus Franca as the Eagles ramp up their pursuit of attacking reinforcements following the departure of Wilfried Zaha. Chelsea also held formal discussions with the Brazilian club regarding the highly-rated teenager earlier this month but it’s Palace who are currently showing more intent in the race for the player’s signature.

Roy Hodgson’s side are understood to have seen an opening proposal worth up to £17million including add-ons rejected by Flamengo earlier in the transfer window.

Yet that has not deterred the Eagles and they remain optimistic of getting the deal over the line as they devise the formula of their second bid.

Flamengo are looking for around £21m for the 19-year-old attacking midfielder who has made 59 appearances – scoring nine goals – for his current side since breaking into their first team back in 2021.

Newcastle also saw a £14m bid rejected during the January transfer window but the Magpies have since cooled their interest following the arrival of Anthony Gordon.

Chelsea could yet derail Palace’s plans to land Franca but the Blues would seemingly prefer to loan the player to sister club Strasbourg next season if they were to strike an agreement.

Palace are ready to fast-track Franca straight into Hodgson’s setup which is in desperate need of a refresh following Zaha’s free transfer to Galatasaray.

Michael Olise is not expected to be back training until September at the earliest after he suffered a grade-three hamstring injury from France U21s at the European Championships in Romania and Georgia.

To add to that, Olise is also being courted by both Chelsea and Manchester City and is a player that could be the subject of offers in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman’s current contract is said to include a release clause worth in the region of £35m which could leave Palace powerless if that figure is matched by admirers.

Palace retain long-term interest in Everton winger Demarai Gray who is free to leave Goodison Park this summer at the right price but Franca is understood to be top of the club’s current wish-list.

Leeds attacker Crysencio Summerville is also rated by Selhurst Park chiefs but the Whites are reluctant to continue weakening Daniel Farke’s squad following a mass clear-out at Elland Road.

Feyenoord and Everton are also keen on the Dutchman but it’s currently unclear whether Leeds would entertain a sale for the 21-year-old who has been utilised as No.10 by Farke in pre-season.

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has been the subject of background talks but Palace do not have the kind of money to hand (at least £40m) that would be required to sign the Gunners frontman following his eye-catching loan spell with Reims in France

So far, Palace’s only summer signing has come in the form of combative Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma.

The Colombian arrives on a free transfer from the Cherries while there have also been three departures in the form of James McArthur, Jack Butland and former captain Luka Milivojevic following the expiry of their contracts.

Chris Francis, a 20-year-old centre-back, is also due to arrive from Bournemouth after featuring five times on loan at Weymouth in the National League South last season.