Crystal Palace missed out on a replacement for Marc Guehi during the January transfer window but are looking to sign new centre-backs before the summer.
Palace’s struggles continue without Guehi
Despite recent victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Palace’s season has been largely disappointing. Currently 14th in the Premier League, their performance hasn’t been stellar.
The campaign began poorly with a relegation to the Europa Conference League and things only worsened after losing captain Guehi in January.
Steve Parish faced a tough decision. His contract was ending at the season’s end so cashing in was understandable. However, failing to sign a replacement is a bit more questionable.
The recruitment team has already begun working on new centre-back signings ahead of the summer transfer window with Fenerbahce star Jayden Oosterwalde in their sights.
Oosterwalde’s transfer could be relatively inexpensive as offers of around £17m might appeal to the Turkish club. South Londoners have now identified another budget-friendly target.
Palace enter race to sign Club Atletico Independiente star Kevin Lomonaco
Crystal Palace are now competing with Premier League rivals West Ham United for the signing of Kevin Lomonaco, who currently plays for Argentinian club Club Atletico Independiente.
Lomonaco’s contract runs until 2028 but a deal could be feasible for a modest fee considering a $15m (£11m) release clause is included.
This fee should be affordable for both Palace and West Ham. Furthermore, the centre-back’s impressive performances in Argentina suggest he’s now ready to challenge himself at a higher level.
Journalist Gaston Edul was particularly impressed by the 24-year-old’s performances last May, describing him as the “best” defender in the Argentina Primera Division.
Transfermarkt’s Scott Christensen has also praised the Argentine centre-back, stating that Kevin Lomonaco remains one of the best in Argentina. His build-up play is still excellent and he’s crucial for his team’s attack.
This season, the Independiente star has been one of his side’s most consistent performers in the Liga Profesional Apertura. He averages a FotMob match rating of 7.30, the second-highest in the squad.
However, bringing in an unproven European player to replace a key player like Guehi would be a significant risk. Therefore, it might be a wise move to sign a more experienced centre-back alongside Lomonaco. This summer promises to be busy with Jean-Philippe Mateta also likely to leave due to a fallout with the fans.