This week, a Barcelona defender is supposedly going to get a medical at Crystal Palace in order to finalize his permanent move to Selhurst Park.
Since Oliver Glasner took over as manager in mid-February, the Eagles have been playing at a high level. They concluded the 2023–24 season with a winning streak that allowed them to finish in the top 10 of the Premier League.
When Glasner took over for Roy Hodgson, Palace was only five points above the relegation zone and ranked 16th in the rankings. However, an incredible run of six wins and one draw in their final seven league games allowed them rocket up to 10th position, finishing 23 points above the bottom three.
As they prepare for the future, the Eagles have already announced that Jairo Riedewald and James Tomkins will be departing the team when their contracts expire in June, and that Joel Ward, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Will Hughes have all signed contract extensions.
While departures are always possible, it looks like Selhurst Park will see some new players join the team. Glasner recently addressed rumors over the futures of several prominent players, including Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.
Chadi Riad getting closer to Crystal Palace’s transfer
Barcelona defender Chadi Riad will undergo a medical at Crystal Palace on Wednesday or Thursday of this week, according to BBC Sport, before finalizing a permanent transfer that will cost £12 million plus £2 million in add-ons.
According to the report, the Eagles and the Catalan giants have been in negotiations for the center-back since last week, and a deal now seems likely to be finalized.
Riad, a two-cap Morocco international, played 30 games across all competitions, including 26 starts in La Liga, while on loan at Real Betis last season.
The 20-year-old was a mainstay in the first squad for Manuel Pellegrini’s team, who placed seventh in the Spanish league to guarantee a spot in the Europa Conference League the following year.
Riad was named as Guehi’s replacement, right?
Riad joined Barcelona’s academy in 2019 and played frequently for the club’s B Team before spending a season on loan at Betis. In November 2022, he made his senior debut as a late substitute.
But Riad hasn’t featured for Barcelona since, and he’s now eager to play Premier League games on a regular basis with Palace.
The planned arrival of Riad at Selhurst Park coincides with rampant rumors over the future of Marc Guehi, a defender for Palace, including interest from Manchester United.
Over the past three seasons, Guehi has made 111 appearances for the Eagles and established himself as a top player. During that time, he has also been awarded nine England caps.
After bouncing back from an injury to play in Palace’s final three league games of the season, the 23-year-old was called up to England’s preliminary team in advance of Euro 2024.
