Crystal Palace are planning for a major summer of change at Selhurst Park at the end of the season, and they have already begun their plans to make transfers happen.
The Eagles will lose manager Oliver Glasner once his contract expires, while there is big speculation that Adam Wharton could move on, while there is also interest in Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, as well as Maxence Lacroix.
But owner Steve Parish is determined to continue building for the future of the south London outfit, despite the need for lots of first-team additions to be brought in.
Harris Afzal Jets to London for Crystal Palace Tour
It was reported earlier this month that Crystal Palace had agreed a deal with Scottish side Queens Park to sign 16-year-old starlet Harris Afzal, agreeing to pay £40,000 plus a significant sell-on clause to move ahead of the likes of Southampton in the race for his signature.
But a deal is yet to be completed, with the young left-back making the final decision on his next destination as he weighs up all of his options. Described as an ‘elite talent’, Afzal has reportedly visited the Saints’ training ground as he makes his decision.
But it has now emerged that Crystal Palace have flown the defender to London in order to show him their facilities and for him to experience the club first-hand, something that they believe will give them an edge in negotiations when it comes down to him making his final decision.
Rangers have also shown an interest in the player, but it looks more likely that he will move south of the border to continue his development, where he is looking to follow in the footsteps of Liverpool star Andy Robertson.
Afzal is One For the Future
While there are more pressing needs in the first-team, the signing of a talent like Afzal would show that Palace are still committed to developing the top young players around.
Afzal isn’t someone who would go straight into the first-team at the club, but if he were to continue on his development trajectory then there is no reason he couldn’t become the long-term left-back option at the club.
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT to break down Afzal’s style of play and his strengths and weaknesses and this was its response:
Style of play
Attack-minded left-back; overlaps and carries the ball
Comfortable progressing play, modern full-back profile
Strengths
Athletic and forward-thinking
Composed in possession
Versatility in build-up phases
Weaknesses
Raw defensively (positioning/duels)
Limited senior experience
End product still developing.
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