Medical underway as £14m Newcastle United target agrees Premier League transfer
Crystal Palace are set to complete the signing of Millwall winger Romain Esse in the coming days.
The 19-year-old has emerged as one of the Championship’s most exciting prospects over the last 12 months with Newcastle United among several Premier League clubs that have scouted him.
But the Magpies are unlikely to do any significant transfer business until the summer, therefore paving the way for Palace to swoop in before anyone else.
It’s understood the South London club agreed to a £14.5million fee, representing a record sale for Millwall. As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Esse is due to undergo his medical on Friday.
Romano posted on X: “Romain Esse to Crystal Palace, here we go and story confirmed! Deal in place with Milwall and player side after talks revealed two weeks ago, now all set for contract signing. It will happen after medical on Friday with #CPFC, all ready.”
Esse has made 24 appearances in the Championship this campaign, registering four goals and one assist.
Recent reports have suggested Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion were the among top-flight teams interested but Palace quickly emerged as the frontrunners.
Speaking earlier this week, Millwall boss Alex Neil said: “There is interest from Crystal Palace. It has been well-documented. How far down the line that is, I’m not too quite sure.
“But I think people need to recognise how well we as a club have done by securing Romain on a new contract, which took, by all accounts, a lot of convincing to stay – because he wanted to play football. He is now playing football and has certainly been one of our best performers this season.
“We don’t want to lose our best players but everyone understands the contract situation surrounding Romain. If he does move he will move for significant money which from the club perspective has been brilliant business considering we could’ve lost him in the summer (next summer) for free.
“I don’t know when and if because I am not involved in that sort of negotiation side of things, but there certainly has been interest – as there will be if you have good players.”
