Crystal Palace edge ahead in the defensive race for former Liverpool defender

With many squad positions in need of filling ASAP, Crystal Palace have been enduring a slow burning summer. With COVID-19 still slowing down the usually rapid business of player trading, many signings are taking longer than expected. And whilst Eagles fans are quite right to be concerned about the quality of the current playing staff, the names being linked with the club are encouraging from a player profile perspective. One name being heavily linked with the club, for example, is Ozan Kabak.

Given the young Turk currently plays for the meekly relegated FC Schalke in Germany, some might worry about his lack of quality. However, his performances at Anfield for Liverpool were impressive enough to have retained admirers in the English game. Leicester City have also been quoted as fans, but it is believed that Palace are closer to making a deal stick than the Foxes.

Kabak, a Turkish international who was once linked with the likes of AC Milan and FC Bayern, is likely to return to the Premier League. Schalke are in the midst of a huge player exodus, and Kabak – seen as one of their prize assets – is expected to be available for a cut-price fee in a bid to quickly settle their own squad. With Palace in desperate need of a new central defender to build around, the Turk might offer fans and new coach Patrick Vieira exactly what is needed.

Is Ozan Kabak the right target for Crystal Palace?

On the face of it, it would appear to be quite a coup. The player was previously linked with a host of major clubs, though a drop-off in form at Schalke – in part linked to the general malaise of the club – seen his chances of a major move drop off. Liverpool signed the player in the midst of a defensive crisis, and he impressed in spurts – though not enough for the Reds to pull the trigger on a full-time signing.

This, though, could be to the gain of Palace as a player who is keen to return to England finds himself with precious few admirers. The interest from Germany, though, paints a better picture, with the likes of RB Leipzig linked with a move for Kabak.

Whatever happens, though, it is very likely that Kabak will be returning to the English top-flight this summer. Palace, who are in major need of new defensive reinforcements, see the player as the ideal fit for a model that is built around signing players up for a good price and selling them on for a profit down the line.

With so much needing done this summer, though, time is of the essence. The Eagles fanbase need to more players arriving who can contribute in a meaningful manner to the first-team. Kabak would offer a player who could easily be developed and improved, offering a young defender to build around.

Given some of his other major admirers in the Premier League have cooled interest, Palace appear to be the clear frontrunners for agreeing a deal for Kabak.