Crystal Palace now looking to beat Wolves to signing of £8.5m striker

Crystal Palace are now in a fight with fellow Premier League side Wolves over the signing of an £8.5 million striker, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace’s summer plans become clearer

Oliver Glasner has not only stabilised the situation at Selhurst Park and led the Eagles out of relegation trouble, but he has also led the South Londoners to the FA Cup final.

By winning that famous English trophy, Palace would seal their place in next season’s Europa League as well, and that achievement could do wonders for Palace’s summer transfer budget. Already the Eagles are being linked with several players, as Glasner plots a few changes to his squad this summer.

According to Caught Offside, Palace are in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon. The Premier League side are considered dark horses in the race, given that teams such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

Meanwhile, last week it was reported that Palace could be a step closer to their first signing of the summer, as they have opened talks with Tamiou Kpebane, who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. The 18-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer, and the Eagles are working on bringing him to South London.

Crystal Palace working to beat Wolves to signing of £8.5m striker

Glasner appears to have his eyes on strengthening all parts of his team this summer, as according to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are eyeing a move to sign Phil Harres from German side Holstein Kiel.

The report states that the Eagles have made regular checks on the centre-forward throughout this season and see him as a player who could become a star. However, they are not alone, as Wolves are also keeping a close eye on him, as well as many other teams across Europe.

The 23-year-old joined Holstein Kiel last summer and has made a solid first impression, netting eight goals in 23 league games. But the Bundesliga side are battling relegation and could be resigned to losing their striker, as they value Harres at £8.5 million heading into the summer.

Harres, who has been dubbed an “instinctive” finisher in the past, is naturally a centre-forward, but he can also play as a right-winger, which would be ideal for Glasner as he likes to have flexibility in his forward line.

Current Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this summer, but the talk of Harres arriving isn’t likely seen as a replacement for the Frenchman but, in fact, a player who can take some of the burden away in terms of being the constant source of goals.

The one concern would be that Harres has only played football in Germany. Therefore, he would arrive with no Premier League experience and could take some time to adjust, given the Bundesliga has produced a fair few flops on English soil.