In the lead-up to this summer, numerous players have been linked with moves to Crystal Palace. However, one significant target now appears out of reach.
Crystal Palace seemed poised for a busy transfer window, with speculation intensifying over the last month. Many of the rumors focused on potential replacements for Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise, should either be sold.
Among the many targets, one standout was Ademola Lookman from Atalanta. The Nigerian forward, who had been linked to a £24 million move to Palace, had an impressive season with 15 goals and seven assists, establishing himself as a key player for his team.
However, Lookman’s recent performance may have complicated matters. He delivered a stellar hat-trick in the Europa League final, leading Atalanta to victory and earning the man of the match title. Such a standout performance makes it unlikely that Atalanta would be willing to part with him, and if they were, the asking price would likely skyrocket.
With Lookman now seemingly out of reach, Crystal Palace Sporting Director Dougie Freedman will need to explore alternative options. Fortunately, there are several other promising candidates on Palace’s radar.
One potential target is Hull City’s Jaden Philogene, known for his exceptional talent. Another is Matias Soule from Juventus, who had a remarkable loan spell at Frosinone. However, Juventus might opt to retain him after such a strong season. Finally, Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe has also been linked, representing a potential repeat of Freedman’s successful Championship recruitment strategies.
As the transfer window progresses, Crystal Palace will need to pivot and focus on these alternative targets to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.