Crystal Palace’s summer transfer plans have been thrown into chaos as they face stiff competition from Brighton and Chelsea for the signature of highly coveted midfielder Matt O’Riley. The Eagles are running out of time to strengthen their squad before the new season kicks off, and this latest twist could prove costly.

With just over a week to go until the Premier League campaign begins, Palace are still looking to bolster their ranks. However, their pursuit of O’Riley has been thrown into jeopardy as Brighton and Chelsea open talks with Celtic, the player’s current club.

O’Riley has been impressive in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists last season. Palace are not the only ones interested, with Brighton and Chelsea eyeing the 23-year-old as a potential addition to their squads.

As the transfer window enters its final stages, Palace must act fast to secure O’Riley’s signature. But with Brighton and Chelsea lurking, the Eagles risk missing out on a key signing. Will they be able to get the deal done, or will their rivals steal the march?

This latest development comes as Palace face the possibility of losing key stars, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich, Marc Guehi in talks with Newcastle, and Eberechi Eze linked with Tottenham. The Eagles must navigate this transfer turmoil to strengthen their squad and push for success in the top tier.

While O’Riley would be a quality option to add to the squad, he may not be a priority for Crystal Palace this summer. Teams will often show interest in players that they believe could become available as a market opportunity. However, in the case of Palace, it’s clear that other areas need bolstering much more immediately than the central ranks.

Another wide option could be on the cards to help deal with any potential outgoings in the forward areas over the summer. A centre-back could be on the cards for the same reason, while left wing-back cover may be desired to share the workload of Tyrick Mitchell. In all, it points towards other moves being made before turning to O’Riley, though it remains to be seen if the Eagles step up their interest.

Meanwhile, Marc Guehi’s potential departure to Newcastle has taken a significant step forward. The England defender had a stellar campaign at Euro 2024, which won’t have helped Oliver Glasner’s chances of keeping the 24-year-old. Already, Crystal Palace have reportedly made a bid to replace Guehi with a prospect for just £4m.

Guehi is believed to be very keen on making the switch to Newcastle this summer, and has told his representatives to make the move happen. The deal is considered already to be close, with Palace looking to receive £60m in return for selling Guehi.

Losing a player of Guehi’s quality is never ideal, but if the Eagles have to lose a big-money player, then Guehi is definitely most replaceable. Without Guehi, the Eagles would not have to change much, given that Glasner has not had the defender for the majority of his time at the club.

With a central defensive trio of Chris Richards, Joachim Andersen, and Chadi Riad, Palace are more than strong enough to cope with the loss of Guehi – with the funds meaning the Eagles could bring in two others to add depth without having to rely on the likes of Joel Ward.

As the transfer window enters its final stages, Crystal Palace must navigate this transfer turmoil to strengthen their squad and push for success in the top tier. Will they be able to secure their targets, or will their rivals steal the march? Only time will tell.