Crystal Palace are now weighing up a move for a forward compared to Franck Ribery as the hunt to replace Michael Olise begins.
Dougie Freedman has already opened talks over a move for Club Brugge No.32 Antonio Nusa after Bayern Munich agreed a deal to sign our No.7 – triggering his £55m release clause.
Now – however – another forward has entered the equation for Crystal Palace…
Crystal Palace shortlist Wilfried Gnonto
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now informed HITC Football that Crystal Palace are considering Leeds United No.29 Wilfried Gnonto as a replacement for Michael Olise.
The Italy international made a real name for himself in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign, leading Gary Neville to call him a “Manchester City winger” as he took England by storm.
Gnonto – however – could not prevent Leeds United from relegation that season, and was also unable to help the Whites get back into the Premier League last term, meaning a sale now seems likely.
Bailey believes Daniel Farke’s side will demand £30m for the Italian – who has a contract at Elland Road running until July 2027.
HITC Football also report that Sunderland No.20 Jack Clarke is another candidate to replace Olise.
Dougie Freedman could sign Franck Ribery 2.0
For those of you who know little about Gnonto, you may be interested to hear that he has been compared to Bayern Munich and France legend Ribery.
It was Goal who made the comparison, with the 20-year-old boasting similarly electric dribbling skills and directness when running at opponents.
In our view, Gnonto is a typical Crystal Palace player, somebody akin to the likes of Yannick Bolasie and namesake Wilfried Zaha, a daring attacker who gets fans off their seats.
The man from Verbania is also believed to earn £20,000-a-week at Elland Road, a salary which Crystal Palace could presumably even afford to double in an attempt to sign him, after removing James Tomkins, Jairo Riedewald and Olise from the wage bill.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Crystal Palace continue to hunt for Olise replacements…
