Crystal Palace ‘Make Approach’ to Sign £200k-a-Week Defender on Loan
Crystal Palace are in ‘ongoing talks’ with Chelsea over a loan deal for out-of-favour English left-back Ben Chilwell, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chilwell hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance this season and has been told he’s free to leave Stamford Bridge this month. The 28-year-old’s only outing was in the Blues’ 5-0 win against AFC Barrow in the Carabao Cup in mid-September.
Palace are keen to strengthen their defence before the winter transfer window closes on Monday (February 3) and Chilwell, sitting on purported wages of £200,000 per week, is on Oliver Glasner’s radar to serve as cover for Tyrick Mitchell. The England international will be keen to get back to playing, having fallen down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca.
Romano confirmed the two London clubs had held talks over the former Leicester City man:
“Crystal Palace have approached Chelsea for Ben Chilwell loan deal, talks ongoing. Discussions started also on player side. Deal on.”
Crystal Palace are looking at a late loan move for Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell, the South London Press.
The Eagles have been in the market for a left wing-back all winter, with Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf the prime target at the start of the window.
The 28-year-old Englishman has been frozen out by Enzo Maresca and has only featured once this season – an EFL Cup clash against League Two side Barrow.
Chilwell joined the Blues from Leicester City in a £50million switch and has featured 107 times in all competitions.
Palace want to bring in competition and cover forChadi Riad
Oliver Glasner’s side are also targeting a centre-back after Trevoh Chalobah was recalled early by Chelsea and Chadi Riad suffered an ACL injury’
Oliver Glasner has jumped to defend Romain Esse after the former Millwall winger received online disapproval from opposition fans due to the fact he celebrated scoring on his Crystal Palace debut despite Brentford being ahead in the game.
The 19-year-old scored with his very first touch in a Crystal Palace shirt after being substituted on with the Eagles being 2-0 down to bring the scoreline back to 2-1.
Esse, who joined in a £14.5million deal, ran off and celebrated with a knee-slide in front of the Holmesdale, which caused a section of people on social media to highlight the fact that Palace were still losing and in the final minutes of normal time.
Glasner said: “He [Esse] did not know that we would lose. There was 15 minutes to play.
“I always tell the players to celebrate every single goal — this is why we play football.
