Crystal Palace have positioned themselves to thrive in the season’s second half.
Oliver Glasner has successfully guided Crystal Palace back on track after a rough start to the campaign, where the team endured eight Premier League games without a win. Over the last eight matches, the Eagles have secured three victories and four draws, lifting them to 15th in the table. Notably, they’ve managed to hold their own against tough opponents like Manchester City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton, and Bournemouth—a significant achievement this season.
Buoyed by a strong finish to the 2023/24 season, where they earned 19 points from a possible 21, Crystal Palace is eager to replicate that success in the Winter transfer market. The January additions of Adam Wharton and Daniel Munoz were pivotal, and now the club is targeting Lyon’s Maxence Caqueret to bolster their squad.
According to *Foot Mercato*, Crystal Palace is prepared to offer Caqueret a five-year deal and €20m (£16.6m) for his signature. The negotiations could involve John Textor, who has stakes in both Lyon and Crystal Palace. Reports suggest that Caqueret, recently out of favor at Lyon under Pierre Sage, may have already played his final game for the French club.
Despite Tottenham also being interested, Caqueret’s 14 appearances this season in a defensive midfield role have caught Palace’s attention. However, the Eagles already have multiple options in defensive midfield. Glasner typically employs a 3-4-3 system, relying on players like Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Cheick Doucoure, and the promising Justin Devenny. Daichi Kamada is another versatile option in central midfield.
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While Caqueret’s pressing abilities are highly rated, Palace’s midfield depth raises questions about the necessity of his arrival. Hughes, however, has just six months left on his contract, suggesting that Dougie Freedman might already be planning for his replacement.
Adding further intrigue, Crystal Palace is also reportedly keeping an eye on Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, hinting at a proactive strategy to reinforce their midfield.
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