Crystal Palace are likely to sign a new central defender this summer – and a player Dougie Freedman bid for in 2020 could potentially arrive at Selhurst Park.
Even if the likes of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen end up staying in south London, a story from the Evening Standard claims that Oliver Glasner would like to sign a new face in the centre-back department regardless.
With that in mind – and a report from Fabrizio Romano – there is one deal we can envisage happening at Crystal Palace this summer…
Crystal Palace can finally sign Armel Bella-Kotchap
Well, Freedman made a bid to sign Armel Bella-Kotchap from VfL Bochum back in August 2020, according to The Athletic.
It felt like a deal was going to materialise, as the story claimed that the German side were willing to sell.
However, it was Southampton who eventually signed Bella-Kotchap in June 2022 for a sum of just £8.6m from VfL Bochum.
The German did well in English football, earning a call up to the German National Team for the 2022 World Cup, before joining PSV Eindhoven on loan for the 2023/24 campaign after Southampton were relegated.
Now – according to Romano – the defender is likely to leave Southampton this summer, and can be signed for €20m (£17m).
The reliable Italian journalist wrote: “Armel Bella-Kotchap, likely to leave Southampton at the end of the season with several clubs interested in him from Germany, Italy and England. Understand price tag will be around €20m.”
There is every chance we could be one of the English clubs keen to sign Bella-Kotchap, after Freedman’s failed attempt to secure the 22-year-old’s signature in 2020.
Dougie Freedman has – apparently – already secured one target
By the sounds of it, Freedman has already bolstered our backline with one new face.
A story from the Daily Record claims that West Ham No.2 Ben Johnson has agreed to join Crystal Palace when his contract expires this summer, and is on the verge of signing a deal at Selhurst Park.
The Londoner recently caught the eye against us in that 5-2 win at Selhurst Park, so if this rumour is true, he would be a welcome addition in SE25.
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