Crystal Palace open talks to sign £7m forward who ‘could be one of the best players England has ever seen’

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Crystal Palace are still hunting for new signings as the February 3rd transfer deadline nears.

Oliver Glasner wanted reinforcements made early in the window – having bemoaned the fact four signings arrived on deadline day last summer – but so far, only Romain Esse has arrived in a £14.5m move from Millwall.

Crystal Palace are still trying to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague – having already seen two bids rejected for the Senegal international.

Now – however – despite the signing of Esse, a story from Record in Portugal states that Crystal Palace have opened talks to sign another forward in Marcus Edwards.

Crystal Palace make contact to sign Marcus Edwards

The Portuguese news outlet now reveal that Crystal Palace have approached the Sporting CP No.10’s new agent.

Record state that the south Londoners have proposed a dry loan deal for Edwards until the end of the season, one that would not include any options or obligations to buy the 26-year-old this summer.

Sporting CP are said to be against the idea, and would prefer to negotiate a deal which gives them some chance of offloading the Londoner on a permanent basis once the 2024/25 campaign ends.

Crystal Palace also made an approach for Edwards last summer – so the Tottenham academy graduate is clearly someone Dougie Freedman, Director of Football at Selhurst Park, admires.

Record add that Sporting CP now value the attacker at just €8m (£7m) – with his contract expiring in June 2026.

Marcus Edwards eager to leave Sporting CP

The talented winger shared a very revealing interview with the Daily Mail earlier this week, in which he made it clear he wants to leave Lisbon – which is perhaps what encouraged Crystal Palace to enquire.

Edwards said: “I’ve just turned 26 and (am) ready for the next phase of my career.

“My contract is up at the end of next season, and I feel like it’s the right time for me to try something different, change my environment, try something new. I’ve (spent) six years in Portugal. It’s been good for my development. I feel like I’m hitting my prime years, 26, 27, 28.

“I’m ready for the next step and looking to fight to win more trophies. I’m ambitious and I feel like I have a lot left to give.”

If Crystal Palace can agree a deal, they would be getting a talent once tipped to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination, while it was also said that he ‘could be one of the best players England has ever seen’ if he fulfils his immense potential.

It was Paris Maghoma who praised Edwards, telling ESPN: “It was just a known thing that Marcus is a mini Messi. He just plays like him, the same way Messi is like Maradona, Marcus is like Messi.

“I personally believe he could be one of the best players England has ever seen, and that’s me being honest. I get slated for this but I genuinely think he is the best player that I have ever seen.”

“If he keeps going and believing in himself, surrounding himself with the right people, there’s no saying he can’t be nominated for a Ballon d’Or.”