Huge double swoop for Man Utd and Chelsea stars lined up as Prem rival hatch audacious plan
Crystal Palace have hatched a plan that involves signing a pair of Man Utd and Chelsea stars who they hope will be ‘squeezed out’ by the influx of new arrivals, per a report.
The Eagles have been conspicuously quiet for the vast bulk of the winter window. That’s about to change, with the Daily Mail and Fabrizio Romano both reporting a £10.5m move for Stuttgart’s Naouirou Ahamada has been agreed. A medical is due to take place today (Monday) and personal terms are already settled.
Patrick Vieira is understood to have made revamping his engine room the top priority this month. Ahamada will go some way to resolving that issue, though the real plans could unfold over the summer.
That’s according to the Sun who claim an audacious double move for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Man Utd’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is being lined up.
Both players have Crystal Palace connections. Indeed, Gallagher shone while on loan at Selhurst Park last season. Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, was on Palace’s books between 2009-2019 before earning a £50m move to Old Trafford.
Palace had been linked with both players at varying stages this month, primarily through loan moves. Though with just 36 hours remaining in the window, neither look likely to depart.
Instead, the Sun claim Palace’s ‘plan’ is to keep their powder relatively dry this month before waiting until both players become available in the summer.
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Man Utd, Chelsea stars could be ‘squeezed out’
Wan-Bissaka is behind Diogo Dalot in Erik ten Hag’s pecking order at right-back. He’s proved his worth of late with Dalot out injured, though a more attack-minded upgrade is on United’s radar come the summer.
Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries is one option continually touted. His agent, Rafael Pimenta, reportedly held talks with United – among other English sides – late last week.
Gallagher, meanwhile, could fall further down midfield pecking order at Stamford Bridge if the Blues succeed in landing Enzo Fernandez.
The British transfer record may yet tumble before the January deadline rolls around at 11pm on Tuesday night.
Palace hope further Man Utd and Chelsea signings will result in Wan-Bissaka and Gallagher being made available for transfer over the summer.
The pair are clearly highly-rated by Vieira and co. who will show patience in the market. In their eyes at least, it’s better to wait for the right targets than move early for the wrong ones.
Wan-Bissaka was a £50m signing back in 2019, though his value will have decreased in the ensuing years.
Gallagher, meanwhile, is reportedly valued between £35m-£40m, per CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs.
Regardless, the price tags both players will command come the summer will largely depend on how much they feature and how well they fare over the second half of the season.
