According to reports, Crystal Palace are still in contention to land Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi as the La Liga youngster is seeking a way out of the club with Ernesto Valverde making it clear that he doesn’t feature in his plans for next season. Despite the departure of Neymar, Barca are yet to find a proper replacement.
The 21-year-old has been a hot prospect in the summer transfer market this season among numerous clubs but Palace’s poor start to their campaign could make them just enough desperate to go all out for the forward. Haddadi’s quality is undeniable and Frank De Boer could definitely gain from someone like him up front.
The Eagles have Christian Benteke as their only quality forward now after Wilfred Zaha got ruled out for a month with an injury in the opening game. The Dutch gaffer had a dreadful start to his life in England as Palace saw two consecutive defeats in the first two weeks and he would want to take make one last dip in the market hoping to find something that can bring him out of the misery.
Given how Jese Rodriguez’s display helped Stoke City overcome Arsenal at the bet365 last weekend, his fellow Spaniard could have a similar impact at the Selhurst Park. However, reports in Spain have claimed that clubs like Alaves, Crystal Palace, Deportivo La Coruna, Roma and Sampdoria are all in for the player.
The London club could surely offer more money than their competitors and for someone who has been capped only once in national colours, Premier League could offer the necessary spotlight just ahead of the World Cup year. Benteke has been one of the most reliable strikers for Palace over the past two seasons but De Boer wouldn’t want to overburden him in a long and enduring season.
An academy product of the famous La Masia academy, Haddadi is yet to reach the potential that he was touted to when he broke into the side in their 2014-15 campaign. He played 10 games there mostly spending time in La Liga2. He was in the senior squad next season when he scored three goals in 15 games.
However, he has failed to impress at the Basque club mostly. He was sent on loan to Valencia last summer where he scored six goals and three assists. Naturally a right winger, El Haddadi can easily adapt to the left wing, in the central midfield, number 10 as well as in the centre forward’s role.
However, while his fantastic technique and terrific composure could be helpful in the league he will find it hard to cope with the physicality of the Premier League. At 175cm, he would see players outmuscling him with relative ease and his pace and movements would be his only strengths.
