Crystal Palace are on the verge of finalizing their first signing of the winter transfer window.
After having a £15m bid for Ben Doak turned down earlier this month, the focus has shifted to Romain Esse of Millwall.
The England U20 international has been in excellent form for the Lions this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 23 appearances, helping Millwall sit 14th in the Championship.
However, Esse was omitted from the squad for Millwall’s 3-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup on Monday. Millwall manager Alex Neil made an intriguing remark about Crystal Palace after the match.
When asked about Esse’s absence, Neil explained that he didn’t want to risk the 19-year-old getting injured, given the ongoing interest from Crystal Palace. He told The Evening Standard: “Crystal Palace have shown a lot of interest, so I didn’t make him available for the game. That situation is progressing, and I didn’t want to put it at risk at this stage.”
A £14.5m fee has been agreed between the two clubs for Esse, who would have triggered a £12m release clause in the summer. Crystal Palace have evidently decided to pay a bit more to secure him now, anticipating competition for his services once the clause became active.
Esse could potentially serve as a replacement for Michael Olise, who has impressed at Bayern Munich with nine goals and ten assists in 24 appearances. While it will be a challenge for Esse to replicate Olise’s impact, their playing styles are somewhat similar, with both players favoring cutting inside from the right onto their stronger left foot. Esse, who has been compared to Bukayo Saka, could therefore be a fitting successor to Olise, provided he is given opportunities to shine in the second half of the season under manager Oliver Glasner.
£15m player now left out of squad as manager confirms Crystal Palace move is advanced
