Crystal Palace are eyeing up Timothy Castagne as a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, The Daily Mail reports.
Palace have been in for Castagne for much of the summer, but Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football-Italia) reported earlier this month that the full-back snubbed a chance to move to South London.
It was claimed within that report that Palace would double the Belgian’s wages. However, the 23-year-old allegedly wanted to stay in Bergamo after helping them achieve Champions League football last season after finishing third in Serie A.
The Daily Mail states that Atalanta are trying to tie Castagne down to a new contract but have failed to meet his demands, thus inviting Crystal Palace back into discussions.
Palace reportedly wanted to sign former youth player and England international Nathaniel Clyne, however, after he suffered a nasty cruciate ligament injury keeping him out for the majority of next season, Palace’s interest understandably dried up.
If Palace go after Castagne they will be getting a player who is naturally more attacking than Wan-Bissaka but probably doesn’t have the defensive prowess their academy graduate has, according to his stats (WhoScored).
Defensively, Wan-Bissaka outdid him in every single area, according to WhoScored statistics. Per match, Wan-Bissaka averaged more tackles (3.7 to 2.2), more interceptions (2.4 to 1), won more offsides (0.3 to 0.1), had more clearances (3.7 to 1.6), had fewer players dribble past him (0.3 to 0.9) and contributed more blocks (0.5 to 0.2).
Offensively, though, Castagne has brought more to Atalanta this season, apart from dribbling (Wan-Bissaka’s 1.7 to 0.7). Castagne scored four goals to Wan-Bissaka’s zero but did register one less assist than him with two. However, per game Castagne had a higher amount of shots (0.7 to 0.3), more key passes (1 to 0.4), was dispossessed less (1 to 1.1), had more crosses (0.4 to 0.3) and had a much better passing percentage rate (83.7 to 73).
Castagne would provide a different aspect to Palace rather than be a direct replacement, as his stats suggest. While Wan-Bissaka and Andros Townsend caused a few problems for defences on the right-hand flank, the goal return and assist tally was much less than their opposite wing of Patrick van Aanholt and Wilfried Zaha. Together the right-hand partnership contributed six goals between them and seven assists, while Zaha and van Aanholt managed 13 goals and seven assists (WhoScored).
Therefore, by signing Castagne Palace might be decreasing the quality of their defence, but might also add more threat going forward.
Castagne would be an optimistic and promising signing for Palace.
At 23 he still has room to grow and could represent a good resale value if they get him for around £20million. Bearing in mind Wan-Bissaka is much less experienced and went for £50million after one good year, there is potential that Castagne could do the same for Palace.
He started 21 games for Atalanta showing that he is a bit of a fringe player for the Champions League side; he will be guaranteed to start if he joins Palace considering their other lack of options.
Crystal Palace fans, do you want to see Castagne replace Wan-Bissaka? Tell us in the comment section below!
