Crystal Palace could still sign wing-back cover for Oliver Glasner as free transfer opportunity now emerges
Crystal Palace enjoyed a productive summer transfer window, although Oliver Glasner did not find the wing-back cover he was looking for.
There was evidently a desire to sign backup for Tyrick Mitchell on the left flank as Crystal Palace decided to take Ryan Sessegnon on trial, only for the Eagles to turn the Londoner down.
Interestingly, Oliver Glasner even admitted that Dougie Freedman was “working” to bolster this particular position on deadline day, but ultimately, no wing-back cover followed Eddie Nketiah, Maxence Lacroix, Trevoh Chalobah and Matt Turner to Selhurst Park before the deadline.
Now – however – an interesting opportunity has arisen for Crystal Palace…
Crystal Palace could sign Alex Telles
In a sudden development, Al Nassr and Alex Telles have now decided to part ways, with the Brazil international’s contract terminated by mutual consent.
Some Crystal Palace fans may remember the Brazilian from his time in the Premier League with Manchester United, where he made 30 Premier League appearances, providing six assists.
Telles – aged 31 – is a vastly experienced footballer, having amassed 436 appearances on the left flank throughout his career and 12 caps for Brazil after impressing with his technical ability in that area.
Due to the South American’s newfound status as a free agent, Crystal Palace do not need to wait until January to offer him a contract – he can be signed whenever.
Oliver Glasner should be able to survive regardless
Even if Freedman does not secure wing-back cover in the free agent market, we feel Crystal Palace should be able to hang on until January.
If something happens to Daniel Munoz, Nathaniel Clyne or Ismaila Sarr can step in, while Jeffrey Schlupp has previously played as a left-back for us, so the Ghana international should feel comfortable slotting in for Mitchell if the England international has to sit out for any reason.
Once the January transfer window does arrive, Crystal Palace might have another look at summer target Filip Kostic, who was the subject of a £6.8m bid from the Eagles, according to Tutto Juve.
There was also interest in Robin Gosens, but Crystal Palace missed out on the German to Fiorentina.
Hopefully, regardless of whether cover is signed, Mitchell and Munoz remain available to Glasner throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
Lee Carsley now explains why he left Crystal Palace No.20 Adam Wharton out of the England squad
Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton was a surprise omission from the latest England squad for the September international break.
The midfielder has impressed at Selhurst Park since moving from Blackburn Rovers in January for a fee worth £22m
At just 20 years old, he has already established himself as a regular for Oliver Glasner at the heart of his tactical setup.
It was those performances at the end of the last Premier League campaign which earned Adam Wharton a first call-up to the England national team squad for Euro 2024.
While the Palace ace didn’t make an appearance in the Three Lions’ run to the final of the competition, it did hint at many to come in the future.
As a result, it came as a slight shock when Wharton wasn’t named in interim manager Lee Carsley’s England squad for the September international break.
