Having recruited so well from the Championship in the past, Crystal Palace have now reportedly set their sights on two impressive second-tier stars ahead of the summer transfer window.
Crystal Palace transfer news
The Eagles are once again soaring after Oliver Glasner a year on from when he arrived and turned their season around. Following initial struggles to replicate that form, the Austrian has got his side firing on all cylinders once again and Jean-Philippe Mateta wheeling away in celebration more often than not in what has been another key change in fortune.
Now eyeing a potential top-half finish, those at Selhurst Park will be keen to build on current form when the summer transfer window arrives. After already welcoming Romain Esse on a permanent basis from Millwall and Ben Chilwell on loan from Chelsea in January, Palace could seek further improvements.
Once again, those improvements could come courtesy of the Championship too, as talents continue to follow in the footsteps of Eberechi Eze and now Esse towards South London.
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now plotting a double swoop to sign Hayden Hackney and Rav van den Berg from Middlesbrough this summer.
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Crystal Palace are keen on signing two players from the same club in the summer transfer window.
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The duo have both impressed in the Championship this season and have deservedly earned the interest of Palace, who could win the race for their signatures. Hackney, in particular, will not come cheap though. Boro reportedly value their defensive midfielder at as much as £20m this summer, but as Palace look to replace Will Hughes, he could be worth every penny.
Dubbed “great” by manager Michael Carrick last season, Van den Berg is impressive in his own right. Amid recent rumours once again linking Marc Guehi with a move away this summer, the 20-year-old could emerge to instantly solve Glasner’s centre-back problem.
Hackney is good enough to replace Hughes
With contract talks yet to prove successful, Glasner is set to have a Hughes-shaped hole to fill when the summer transfer window arrives in what will be a frustrating blow. The former Derby County man has become an important figure at the heart of the Austrian’s midfield, but as he potentially departs, the future of Palace’s midfield could arrive in the form of Hackney.
Starts
30
18
Progressive Carries
2.71
1.02
Progressive Passes
10.6
4.26
Ball Recoveries
6.67
5.45
Without Hughes, there may be concern within Selhurst Park that Palace are about to lose their safest midfielder and often the man left to win possession back for his side. But not only is Hackney perfectly capable of replicating both of those traits, he’s performing those tasks more often than the Palace midfielder – albeit in the Championship.
What’s most impressive is that the Boro star progresses play extremely well. One criticism of Hughes – especially when looking at the numbers – is that his passing range is almost too safe and too limited at times. Hackney, by contrast, sets his sights forward more often than not.
So, if Palace are seeking a replacement for Hughes – an heir to his midfield throne – then Hackney should be the man in waiting.
