Crystal Palace chiefs in talks to sign “exceptional” new target in January
According to reports, Crystal Palace began negotiations to sign a new target in January who has been hailed as “exceptional” by the manager of his national squad.
Palace is in far better form going into the Christmas season than they were a month ago, even though they were crushed by Arsenal over the weekend. At Selhurst Park, impressive victories against Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as a draw with struggling Manchester City, have raised spirits.
However, manager Oliver Glasner will undoubtedly be eager to recruit reinforcements after the New Year, given the team is still hovering barely above the Premier League’s drop zone.
The Eagles have already been linked with a number of players, including Manchester City’s James McAtee and Millwall midfielder Romaine Esse, while Fluminense winger Jhon Arias is also understood to be on their radar.
It was recently reported by Football Insider that Palace’s scouts have been keeping close tabs on the 27-year-old, who hit 15 goals and notched eight assists in 53 games across all competitions last season.
The Colombia international, known as “Little Engine,” has been praised by South American football expert Tim Vickery, who called him “very, very versatile” and Fluminense’s “best player”.
One player Palace are reportedly close to sealing a deal for is Benfica winger Jan-Niklas Beste. According to Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Crystal Palace have “fallen under the spell” of the German and talks between the player’s advisors and Palace chiefs are already well underway, with both clubs engaged in negotiations too.
Tavolieri claims that Benfica open to doing business but only want to sell Beste on a permanent basis, and would hope to make back at least the £6.5 million they spent to sign him in the summer.
Beste, 25, has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter for Bruno Lage’s Benfica, but impressed during his time in Germany with 1. FC Heidenheim.
A product of Borussia Dortmund’s academy, he scored 20 goals and provided 28 assists in two seasons for Heidenheim, helping them earn promotion to the Bundesliga in 2023 for the first time in their history.
After being called up to the German national team for the first-ever time back in March, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann heaped praise on Beste.
“He can play an offensive role but also at the back and can play left-back without any problems”, Nageslmann said, according to X account iMiaSanMia. “Plus, he is an exceptional set piece taker. He deserved the nomination with the goal involvments he has.”
Former Heidenham teammate Jan Schoppner also once described Beste’s left foot as being “worth its weight in gold,” while his old Heindenham boss Frank Schmidt once said of him: “Niklas is an incredibly important player for us, as he continually puts in good performances with his great attitude.”
