Crystal Palace have experienced a favorable summer, but one transfer target is proving difficult to secure.
For Oliver Glasner, this summer was crucial for determining the success of the 2024/25 season, given the high expectations. Crystal Palace finished last season strongly in the Premier League, raising hopes within the squad for qualifying for European football. Achieving this goal required strong recruitment during the transfer window, which has been successful so far. However, the Eagles have now encountered their first obstacle in pursuing a midfielder.
Trabzonspor manager to block Batista Mendy sale
Crystal Palace has been linked with a move to sign Trabzonspor’s midfielder Batista Mendy for around £13m. However, according to Turkish outlet Kuzey Ekpres, Trabzonspor manager Abdullah Avci wants to retain Mendy and is determined to block the sale of the talented Frenchman. Avci is reportedly in constant contact with Mendy to keep him at the club.
Despite this, the report mentions that Palace is still pursuing the 24-year-old, facing competition from two unnamed clubs. This development suggests that the deal to sign Mendy has become more complicated than expected.
Crystal Palace turn attention to Aster Vranckx
The challenges in acquiring Mendy indicate that Palace may be seeking alternative midfield reinforcements. Aster Vranckx has emerged as a potential target, with reports in the past 48 hours indicating that Palace is “pushing” to sign the Belgian midfielder. Vranckx is similar to Mendy in that both are physical midfielders excelling in defensive roles.
Additionally, Palace’s interest in Arthur Melo of Juventus, although he is a different type of player compared to Mendy and Vranckx, further indicates their search for midfield options. Arthur, previously compared to Xavi during his time at Barcelona, adds another dimension to Palace’s transfer considerations.
