EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City prepares to submit tempting bid to sign Crystal Palace reliable star straight after after cup final
Eberechi Eze will see the FA Cup Final as an “audition” ahead of a prospective move from Crystal Palace to Manchester City, sources have told Football Insider.
Man City take on Palace at Wembley on 17 May with a chance to deny Oliver Glasner’s side the first major silverware in their history, and collect a trophy of their own to salvage a below-par campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s side will have to keep tabs on Eze with the England playmaker acting as Palace’s fulcrum in attack, but Football Insider sources have said City will have their eyes on Eze in more than one way.
Sources have told Football Insider that if the 26-year-old impresses in Saturday’s FA Cup Final, City will firm up their long-time interest in Eze and launch an approach to sign the midfielder as soon as possible.
Eze’s contract at Selhurst Park includes a £60million release clause which has alerted City and other Premier League clubs, and Football Insider sources anticipate a closely-fought summer transfer battle.
Man City face competition in Eberechi Eze transfer chase
Eze‘s £60m price tag will certainly be within the budgets of Premier League big-hitters, and former Man United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last month that Liverpool are prepared to pay that figure.
Now, sources have told Football Insider that as well as the Reds and City, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham all plan to act on their interest in Eze this summer, with Palace braced for transfer offers.
Palace put a £70m price tag on Eze’s ahead 12 months ago, and given that valuation has only dropped by £10m, Football Insider sources have said the Eagles were surprised more offers didn’t come their way last summer.
Palace to prevent mass exodus after Eze transfer saga
Given Eze seemingly has half the Premier League on his tail ahead of the summer transfer window, it’s no surprise City want to wrap up a deal for him as soon as possible and have also explored other options.
Adam Wharton could be an alternative target at the Etihad Stadium, and Brown told Football Insider that City are the “front-runners” to complete a transfer for the £80m-rated central midfielder this summer.
Palace don’t want to lose more than one key player after they rejected Newcastle’s approach for Marc Guehi last summer, and if Eze is the player who leaves for big money, Glasner will hope to keep the rest of his squad together.
