Crystal Palace now racing Barcelona to sign “incredible” £31m Man City ace
Crystal Palace are racing Barcelona for the signature of an “incredible” Manchester City player, with Pep Guardiola’s side now open to a sale next month.
Palace set to be active in January transfer window
Oliver Glasner has confirmed that he is expecting some new additions in the upcoming transfer window, saying: “We started to talk about this weeks ago because if we start now, it’s too late. Everything is already on track, and it’s just about getting the deals done.
“We know this, the club knows this, the board knows this. I don’t want to talk [too much] about it because if everybody knows, it just gets more expensive. Everything is on track. [Sporting director] Matt Hobbs and Steve [Parish] are really working hard to get these deals done.”
Of course, with Marc Guehi’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, one of the most important tasks in January or the summer will be to bring in a new centre-back, and plenty of targets have already been identified.
Lens’ Samson Baidoo, Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa have all been named as potential options for the Eagles, while they could also make a move for a Man City star.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Crystal Palace are now racing Barcelona for the signature of Nathan Ake, who is set to be available for €30m – €35m (£26m – £31m) in the upcoming transfer window.
City are now open to sanctioning Ake’s departure, and there is no shortage of potential suitors, with AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and West Ham United also keen.
The Dutchman’s future is set to be decided next month, with the interested Premier League clubs likely to want a permanent deal, while Barca would prefer to bring him in on loan, with an option to buy.
Barcelona now very keen on Crystal Palace star who Glasner called "amazing"
Palace have a decision to make when it comes to the future of a key player.
By
Dominic Lund
"Incredible" Ake could be solid Guehi replacement
Of course, Palace losing their captain is far from ideal, but they are powerless to prevent him from leaving at the end of the season, and there are indications the City defender could be a solid replacement.
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Crucially, the 30-year-old is vastly experienced in the Premier League, having made 243 appearances in the competition, during which time he’s won the title on six occasions, across spells with Man City and Chelsea.
Lauded as “incredible” by Guardiola, the Netherlands international is also very composed in possession of the ball, averaging a pass-completion rate of 94.6% over the past year, which places him in the 99th percentile, compared to other centre-backs.
Ake, who pockets £160k-a-week, could be a fantastic acquisition for Crystal Palace in January, and it would make sense for City to sanction a departure, given that he has been a bit-part player so far this season, appearing for just 223 minutes across eight Premier League games.
