Manchester City made a £60m deadline day bid for Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, but the Eagles refused to sell their star player.
The Cityzens were desperate to sign Eze, who has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium for some time. The 23-year-old is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions, and he is seen as a long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva.
City were willing to pay £60m for Eze, but Palace were holding out for an £80m fee. The London club are determined to keep hold of their player, who they believe is worth more than £60m.
The sale of Cole Palmer to Chelsea was intended to free up funds to spend on Eze, but in the end, City were unable to agree a deal with Palace.
Eze had a breakthrough season in 2020-21, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 26 Premier League appearances. However, he suffered a serious Achilles injury in December 2021 and missed the rest of the season.
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He returned to action in February 2023 and has since made 10 appearances for Palace, scoring two goals.
Eze is still only 23 years old and has a lot of potential. He is a creative and skillful player who could be a great asset to any team.
It remains to be seen whether City will come back for Eze in the future, but for now, he will stay at Palace.
Here are some additional details about the transfer:
- The £60m bid was made on deadline day, August 31, 2023.
- City also sold Cole Palmer to Chelsea for £40m on deadline day.
- Palace are reportedly demanding £80m for Eze.
- Eze has a contract with Palace until 2025.
- He has made 44 appearances for Palace in all competitions, scoring 10 goals.
What does this mean for City and Palace?
The failed transfer of Eze is a blow to City, who were looking to add some creativity and attacking flair to their midfield. However, they have still had a busy summer transfer window, signing Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, and Stefan Ortega Moreno.
Palace will be pleased to have kept hold of Eze, who is a key player for them. He is likely to be a major asset to the club in the coming seasons.