Crystal Palace keen on Kelechi Iheanacho as Jean-Philippe Mateta attracts transfer interest
Crystal Palace will make a move for Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho should Jean-Philippe Mateta leave this summer.
Iheanacho, 26, is deemed important to relegated Leicester’s bid to return to the Premier League but Roy Hodgson has made him one of his top transfer targets.
The Foxes do not want to lose Iheanacho, but Palace know he will be available on a cut-price deal with his contract set to expire next summer.
Hodgson is desperate to add goals to his frontline after club legend Wilfried Zaha departed for Galatasaray, and knows Mateta is ready to explore a move away with both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig interested.
Leipzig have had two offers rejected, the first a loan bid and then a £7million offer to sign Mateta permanently. Matata failed to make Palace’s squad for the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Monday night.
Hodgson is also keen to sign a new goalkeeper after a falling out with long-time no1 Vicente Guaita.
The 36-year-old is accused of “refusing to play” by Hodgson but sources close to the player deny this version of events. Manchester United’s Dean Henderson and Leicester’s Daniel Iversen are both considered options.
Crystal Palace fail with audacious bid as Chelsea confirm deal with Newcastle for Player of the Season
Newcastle have beat Crystal Palace to the signing of defender Lewis Hall- despite the player having agreed personal terms with the south London club.
Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of young Chelsea defender Lewis Hall weeks after he signed a fresh six-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Eddie Howe’s team have signed Hall initially on loan but there is a clause that has an obligation to buy next season based on his performance and the team’s general success.
According to reports, a fee of £28m plus £7m in add-ons will be activated at the end of the season which essentially means he is not likely to return to Stamford Bridge this season.
“To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I’ve supported since I was a kid, I’m honoured and very proud to wear this shirt,” Hall said.
“Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It’s a big club and I can’t wait to get started.”
The young midfielder can also play as left back and won Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Season last year under Frank Lampard.
Reports of his exit started to escalate after his surprise limited game time in pre-season with Crystal Palace initially reported to be keen on him- but Newcastle United who will have Champions League football this season hijacked the deal, offering more money and structure to secure the deal.
Chelsea have spent close to £400million this summer adding to the £600million spent in the last two transfer windows- so a deal to sell Hall falls under the need to try and balance the books despite the player being tipped to be a star in the future.
