Journalist claims Crystal Palace ‘in talks’ to sign £25m ace who can play at RB
News from journalist Mike McGrath has claimed that Crystal Palace are negotiating a deal to sign a very versatile defender this summer.
Crystal Palace need to make some reinforcements as their squad is not as strong as it was last season. It looks like they are finally starting to get a move on in the transfer window.
Journalist for The Telegraph Mike McGrath reported on this latest target for the Eagles.
He said: “Crystal Palace in talks over deal for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Odilon Kossounou. The Ivory Coast international is wanted on initial loan with and obligation to buy from 24/25”.
Although Koussounou is predominantly a centre-back, he has also featured a fair bit as a right-back and can also play as a defensive midfielder.
Previous reports have suggested Kossounou’s price tag is around £25million. In addition, he was apparently a ‘top target’ for Arsenal back in 2021.
Crystal Palace in talks to sign Kossounou
This transfer news around Palace has come out of nowhere. The defender is definitely someone who adds a lot of quality to the squad.
Arguably, the right-backs at Palace are not good enough at this current time. Due to this the fact that the club are signing a young defender who can play in that position is great news.
The centre-back would also add some squad depth to his more predominant position. It seems like Palace could also be preparing for the future by trying to sign the 22 year-old.
Palace defenders Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen have both been reportedly attracting interest. It would be very hard to keep the two for multiple seasons so bring in someone like Kossounou seems like a great idea.
With the competition in the Premier League very strong, it is good to see that Palace are looking to make more signings before the season starts.
It would be great if Roy Hodgson could be treated to a strong squad before they play their first game so that the team can be fully prepared.
More so, the defender has played in the Champions League already so looks to have lots of potential
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Crystal Palace are one of several Premier League clubs whose transfer windows have done nothing to ease any relegation concerns.
What’s the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?
This has been recognised by Roy Hodgson, who has expressed concerns over squad depth, saying:
“We’ve lost five senior players from last season and brought one in – Jefferson Lerma; he’s good and we’re happy to have him in – but there is still that hole of five senior players in the squad, two of whom were two of the real stars of the team.
“There’s a bit of work for the chairman and sporting director to do between now and the end of August.”
Therefore, new target Ruben Vargas would be a possible way of upgrading the frontline.
According to the Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, the Eagles are looking at taking the Augsburg forward out on loan.
He took to Twitter last week to report: “Crystal Palace have been assessing midfielders during the window. They’ve looked at Ruben Vargas at FC Augsburg as a possible loan. Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville is admired but would need to determine LUFC plans for him next season.”
Who is Ruben Vargas?
The Swiss has been at Augsburg for four years, and upon his arrival, the club’s Managing Director Stefan Reuter described the player as a “great addition” to the squad.
During this time, he has become one of the German outfit’s most reliable performers, appearing in 115 of the last 136 Bundesliga games.
Last season, in just 13 domestic starts, the £14k-per-week “threat” – as lauded by reporter Josh Bunting – recorded seven goal involvements and averaged the second-most dribbles per game (0.9) in the entire squad.
Vargas also ranks impressively across the continent, sitting within the best 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches in the attacking penalty area, and progressive passes received, all per 90.
From a Crystal Palace perspective, a player of this quality and effervescence means he is a more useful asset than the frustrating Jordan Ayew.
Similarly, both players have appeared across the frontline for their respective clubs (Ayew as centre-forward and winger, and Vargas mainly as the latter), demonstrating an attack-minded versatility, however, Vargas comfortably outperforms the Ghanaian in this role.
During this time, he has become one of the German outfit’s most reliable performers, appearing in 115 of the last 136 Bundesliga games.
Last season, in just 13 domestic starts, the £14k-per-week “threat” – as lauded by reporter Josh Bunting – recorded seven goal involvements and averaged the second-most dribbles per game (0.9) in the entire squad.
Vargas also ranks impressively across the continent, sitting within the best 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches in the attacking penalty area, and progressive passes received, all per 90.
From a Crystal Palace perspective, a player of this quality and effervescence means he is a more useful asset than the frustrating Jordan Ayew.
Similarly, both players have appeared across the frontline for their respective clubs (Ayew as centre-forward and winger, and Vargas mainly as the latter), demonstrating an attack-minded versatility, however, Vargas comfortably outperforms the Ghanaian in this role.
Moreover, Ayew will turn 32 in September, and a move for Vargas would follow in the footsteps of Matheus Franca, as Palace attempt to create a younger and more dynamic squad.
This move could be crucial as the club has already lost Wilfried Zaha, with Michael Olise possibly destined for the same outcome.
Last term, these technicians registered 23 goal contributions between them, and for a mid-table side like Crystal Palace, who were briefly threatened by relegation before the return of Hodgson, are incredibly high numbers.
As well as being an upgrade to Ayew, Vargas can also serve as support and an understudy to Eberechi Eze.
FBref’s comparison tool likens their play styles so if the Englishman suffers a similar length of injury that kept him out for 162 days in 2021, then Vargas could be to soften any potential blow.
