Likely new Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira eyeing old club raid
3 min read
With Crystal Palace fans almost certain to welcome Patrick Vieira as the clubs new manager, there are some obvious links appearing. For one, the Arsenal legend is almost certain to head on back to his former club to try and land a few new talents. With numerous first-team regulars like Gary Cahill and Andros Townsend set to depart on free transfers, Vieira will need to look to close a few gaps within the first-team squad as soon as possible. With a strong relationship with the Emirates outfit, could he return to his old stomping ground to pick up a few new wings for his Eagles side?
One player who is being immediately linked with a move to South London is Reiss Nelson. The youngster impressed on a loan spell in Germany, but has failed to really progress and live up to the hype ever seen. As such, Arsenal might look to loan out the youngster to get him more game time and further expand his abilities. Though a talented player, Nelson is yet to really get a regular run of games in the league. With so many Palace players ageing or departing, Vieira might look to bring in an exciting new wide option to spice things up.
Another Arsenal player who has been quickly linked is Eddie Nketiah. The youngster, like Nelson, has failed to regularly break into the first-team in the way that Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have. As such, the Gunners might look to loan out Nketiah to get him more game time. Previous loan spells have been less than fruitful, though, so Arsenal might simply look to cash in and move on from a young talent who, while exciting, has yet to really show any meaningful development.
Will Arsenal get a call from Crystal Palace?
It certainly seems that way. One of the most interesting links, though, comes from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The versatile midfielder has played at full-back, wide midfield, central midfield, and further forward. Impressing on loan at West Bromwich Albion, it is believed that Arsenal are keen to sell the player and bring in a new player. The 23-year-old might make the ideal addition to a Palace side that needs all of the help that it can get when it comes to adding more midfield numbers.
Maitland-Niles is a talented player, and would likely fit in with the aggressive system that Vieira will look to implement. He has also made sure that he will look to find a long-term option this summer, with a return to the bench at Arsenal no longer an option. He has made clear that he would like to move on.
With midfield playmaker Eberechi Eze set to be out for a long while, too, Palace fans might be keen to see some young reinforcements arrive. It would be win-win for all parties; Arsenal get young players Premier League level action; Vieira boosts his squad with exciting talent; and the players get to play a regular level of football that they have so far missed out on.