Crystal Palace are now close to signing a player who has actually been compared to Mesut Ozil.
Dougie Freedman has been busy since the end of the 2023/24 campaign, agreeing a new contract at Selhurst Park after rejecting Newcastle, before getting down to work on strengthening Oliver Glasner‘s squad.
After wrapping up an agreement with Real Betis for the signing of Chadi Riad – who is waiting for Crystal Palace to announce him – another deal is now very close to completion…
Crystal Palace close to signing Daichi Kamada
An update from Fabrizio Romano now reveals that Crystal Palace are close to signing Daichi Kamada.
The reliable Italian journalist has even given the deal his trademark “Here We Go” – which is usually only reserved for when a signing is practically done.
Romano wrote: “Daichi Kamada to Crystal Palace, here we go! Verbal agreement confirmed as revealed on Friday, medical tests booked this week. Palace are just waiting for Kamada to sign the contract as free agent. Oliver Glasner wanted Daichi again after Eintracht chapter together.”
The Japan international’s personal terms are yet to be disclosed, although it seems he is set for an increase on his current £65,000-a-week salary, after talks over a new contract at Lazio collapsed due to wage demands.
A story by Radio Sei in Italy claimed that Crystal Palace were happy to offer Kamada the amount Lazio refused to.
Oliver Glasner reunites with a highly intelligent footballer
This is very exciting news for Crystal Palace fans, as Glasner arguably doesn’t have a player like Kamada at Selhurst Park.
The 27-year-old excels at ghosting in between the lines and popping up in the right areas, something Thierry Henry noticed after spotting the man from Ehime in Belgian football.
Speaking on CBS Sports, the Arsenal legend said: “Daichi Kamada, I came across him when he was playing for Sint-Truidense in Belgium. I like the way he thinks. I like the way he plays. Typical Japanese player.
“What he does very well is that he always appears in the box. He stays alive every single time. I really like Kamada. He’s a very good player. Not very explosive, but he will find a way to score.”
Glasner himself has previously added: “I’ve only rarely encountered such an intelligent player out on the pitch. Daichi’s sense of anticipation for where dangerous spaces will open up is excellent. I trust him to find the spaces opposing teams give us.”
As aforesaid, Kamada has also been compared to Ozil – one of the most creative players of his generation with 218 assists in 645 appearances.
It was The Athletic who likened the Crystal Palace target to the German, when writing a detailed analysis of who could replace him at Arsenal in June 2020 after Mikel Arteta exiled the playmaker.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Crystal Palace could soon announce Kamada’s arrival.
The post "Here we go": Crystal Palace now close to signing £65,000-a-week player compared to Mesut Ozil - Romano appeared first on We are Palace.