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Crystal Palace: Eagles want Edson Alvarez
Crystal Palace are one of three teams lining up a bid for Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, Football Insider claim.
The lowdown
With just over a week of the January transfer window remaining, Palace are yet to do any first-team business, in or out.
But that could change as they set their sights on Alvarez, who’s valued at £18million by Transfermarkt and has three and a half years left on his Ajax contract.
The 24-year-old is predominantly a defensive midfielder but he’s also capable of operating as a centre-back.
The latest
The report cites a ‘recruitment source’ who says that Palace have been making ‘regular checks’ on Alvarez.
They’re one of three Premier League sides in the running, along with Leicester City and Chelsea.
Ajax would like to keep him but know it will be difficult and have ‘braced’ themselves for offers.
The verdict
Alvarez, who’s played 15 Champions League games during his time in Amsterdam, looks like he’d represent a considerable upgrade on the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate and Luka Milivojevic.
He shone for the runners-up Mexico at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.
According to WhoScored, he’s mighty in the air and also excels at passing, in addition to reading the game well.
Indeed, they rank him as one of the 10 best performers in the Eredivisie so far this season.
What’s more, talent scout Jacek Kuling has raved about him, calling him a ‘superb tackler’, ‘tenacious’ and ‘charismatic’.
If Palace can fend off the competition and persuade Ajax, it could be an excellent signing.
In other news, this man is set to leave Selhurst Park after losing his place.
