Report: Crystal Palace want ‘explosive’ forward who Patrick Vieira signed for OGC Nice in 2020

Add as preferred source on Google

According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace want to sign OGC Nice forward Deji Sotona, who Patrick Vieira knows well.

What’s the story?

Well, it was Vieira who signed Sotona for OGC Nice back in September 2020.

Sadly, the pair didn’t get to spend much time together in Ligue 1, as Vieira was sacked the following December.

However, it is telling that he wanted Sotona in his squad.

The 18-year-old turned down a professional contract at Manchester United to join Vieira in France.

At Old Trafford, Sotona was clocked as the fastest player in the entire squad.

OGC Nice’s official announcement of his arrival even saw him described as an ‘explosive‘ forward.

The teenager recorded a speed of 22.9mph, which was 1.2mph quicker than Diogo Dalot, the second fastest player among the Red Devils.

Deji Sotona’s arrival could come at a cost

The Daily Mail‘s article is heavily featured around Zion Atta’s future, with the information on Sotona merely a couple of paragraphs long.

Atta – a 16-year-old wonderkid in Crystal Palace’s ranks – has received offers from Juventus, Roma, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and OGC Nice.

The Daily Mail believe Sotona and Atta could be involved in some sort of player-plus-cash swap deal at some point.

It would be a shame to lose Atta, but Sotona sounds like a very promising forward as well.

Significantly, the fact Vieira has chosen to sign him before should reassure Crystal Palace fans who might be sceptical about this move.