Key Takeaway: Eberechi Eze, once a potential £70m replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, will now look to spoil Manchester City’s Premier League title chase as Crystal Palace host the defending champions at Selhurst Park. Eze now plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for Crystal Palace.
Details: Manchester City’s summer transfer activity was relatively low-key compared to previous windows, with Savinho (20) arriving from Troyes and Ilkay Gundogan (33) returning from Barcelona. The club also offloaded several players, including Julian Alvarez (24) to Atletico Madrid and Joao Cancelo (29) to Al-Hilal, but the most intriguing possibility was a move for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze (26).
Following a stellar EURO 2024 campaign with England and another strong season with Palace, Eze was touted as a long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne (33). Reports earlier in the summer suggested City were prepared to trigger Eze’s £70m release clause. Guardiola, who had expressed admiration for the midfielder the year prior, was keen on bringing him to the Etihad, but ultimately, a bid never materialized.
While the £70m release clause has now expired, City’s interest in Eze remains. Palace, however, were unwilling to let both Eze and Michael Olise (22) depart, with the latter moving to Bayern Munich. Now, the 26-year-old will be out to prove what City missed when the two teams face off on Saturday.
Citations & Quotes:
Guardiola’s praise for Eze has been clear in past statements, though the manager never fully pursued a deal, likely due to the club’s financial constraints. Eze’s performance at EURO 2024 and his consistent club form have only increased his stock.
As City head into the match following a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, they are nine points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. With Palace improving despite their low league position, Eze’s role in the fixture could be pivotal.
Keep in mind:
Manchester City is still navigating a defensive crisis with several injuries to key players, which could affect their performance against Crystal Palace.
Eze, despite his solid performances, might still be a target for City in future windows, but that depends on the club’s approach and how the current squad performs without him.
Both teams are at different ends of the Premier League table, but Palace’s improved form could lead to a challenging match for Guardiola’s side.
