Arsenal and Tottenham Battle Heats Up as Eberechi Eze Faces Potential Axe Amid Transfer Frenzy
Crystal Palace are allegedly ready to bench Eberechi Eze for their opening Premier League match of the campaign due to escalating transfer speculation surrounding their key creative midfielder.
The 27-year-old playmaker has been linked with a departure from Selhurst Park throughout the summer transfer window. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the two sides most frequently mentioned as suitors for Eze, who is believed to be receptive to relocating to north London.
Since neither team activated his £67.5 million ($91.5 million) buyout clause, this transfer situation was anticipated to continue until the window's conclusion. Palace face two important Conference League qualifying matches against Norway's Fredrikstad FK in late August and were reportedly eager to retain Eze for these European encounters before facilitating his departure ahead of the Sep. 1 cutoff.
Nevertheless, talks with Tottenham have intensified to such a degree that Palace are contemplating omitting Eze from Sunday's Premier League encounter at Chelsea, as reported by The Guardian. Unlike the alleged standoffs involving Alexander Isak and Alejandro Garnacho at Newcastle and Manchester United respectively, this situation doesn't involve a player refusing to participate.
Rather, this represents a strategy reportedly considered by the club's leadership to guarantee a favorable resolution for all stakeholders. Tottenham are understood to be in detailed talks with Palace, gaining ground on Arsenal in the negotiation race, though like their London counterparts, they have not submitted an official offer.
The Eagles are evidently concerned about losing Eze. The Athletic reports that the newly crowned Community Shield champions have contacted Leicester City about acquiring Bilal El Khannouss, who is seen as a creative successor to the England midfielder.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner insisted that Eze—along with Liverpool target Marc Guéhi—would participate this weekend. "Marc has trained throughout the week with us, every training session, identical with Ebs," the Austrian coach informed gathered media at his pre-match briefing.
"They've prepared optimally for the Chelsea fixture on Sunday afternoon. I've been involved in football for an extensive period, so I understand that at any moment of any day, developments can occur. If you question me now, I anticipate both Marc and Ebs to feature on Sunday."