Dougie Freedman has established himself as an adept recruiter at Selhurst Park in terms of incoming transfers. However, Crystal Palace still needs to improve on selling fringe players at the optimal time for the best possible fees.
So, which former Crystal Palace player might be returning to the Premier League? Let’s explore…
Jake O’Brien as a Potential Replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton
In August 2023, Crystal Palace sold Jake O’Brien to John Textor’s Lyon for £846,525, as the Irish defender’s prospects for regular play were hindered by Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, and Chris Richards in south London.
Since his move, the Republic of Ireland international has thrived in France, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances, aiding Lyon to finish sixth and secure a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
Now, according to HITC Football, Lyon is interested in signing Ben Godfrey from Everton and is willing to include O’Brien in the deal. Everton, in turn, is interested in the Crystal Palace academy graduate.
This development comes as Manchester United shows interest in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, for whom the Toffees are asking £80m this summer.
As a result, O’Brien could potentially replace Branthwaite if Lyon successfully acquires Godfrey, ahead of competition from Atalanta.
Potential Benefits for Crystal Palace
While it might be tough to see a player sold for just £846,525 excelling for Everton instead of Crystal Palace, Freedman did secure a sell-on clause in O’Brien’s transfer to Lyon. London News Online reports this clause to be worth 15% of any fee Lyon receives for the 23-year-old. Thus, if Everton buys O’Brien, Palace could benefit financially.
This scenario is worth monitoring, as any funds received from O’Brien could provide Freedman with more flexibility in the market, contributing as pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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