- Crystal Palace want to sign Evann Guessand permanently
- Ivorian has spent second half of season on loan
- Aston Villa prepapred to sell
Crystal Palace are reportedly set to make Evann Guessand’s loan move permanent this summer. The Aston Villa forward has spent the second half of the campaign with the Eagles.
Football Insider reports that Palace will look to sign Guessand permanently despite Oliver Glasner’s departure. The Ivorian has bounced back from a dissapointing start at Villa and shone at Selhurst Park.
Guessand has made 12 appearances across competitions for the South Londoners. He has posted two goals and one assist, showing his versatility to play out wide on the left.
Crystal Palace eye Guessand permanent deal
Guessand returned to the bench in Palace’s 2-2 draw with Brentford on the weekend. He’d missed nine games due to a knee injury suffered in a 3-0 win over Fiorentina.
From Villa’s perspective, they are hoping to cash in on the 24-year-old who struggled under Unai Emery. He joined the Villans from OGC Nice last summer for £30m, and he managed just two goals in 21 games.
Guessand opted for Villa Park over Selhurst Park when making the move. But he’s ended up in South London, where he could now stay long-term.
A £28m buy clause is an option for Palace, although the club might be tempted to try and renegotiate a lower fee. He is said to have impressed the higher-ups with his performances that have helped Glasner’s side reach the Conference League final.
First summer signing
It makes sense to sign Guessand given his contributions during his loan spell. But anything more than the £28m fee would be the wrong decision given Villa’s willingness to offload him.
The club look set to proceed with his permanent acquisition despite still not announcing a Glasner replacement. Recent reports suggest departing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner, while Lens’ Pierre Sage and an unnamed candidate are the remaining three contenders.
Guessand’s versatility will be ideal for any manager who takes over from Glasner. He can play up top and on the wing, which will help the Eagles’ depth, especially if they win the Conference League and qualify for the Europa League.
Palace are set for a big summer of transfer business, which could require replacing several big-name players. Adam Wharton is heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, while Jean-Philippe Mateta could still end up at AC Milan.
