Exclusive: Crystal Palace may now abandon interest in long-term target after £15m Chadi Riad deal

  • EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey

Crystal Palace are in a good position this summer with two arrivals said to be done, but now one target looks unlikely.

Only in the second full week of the transfer window, already Crystal Palace have completed the move for Chadi Riad from Real Betis.

Following closely behind the Riad Raid is a move to sign Daichi Kamada for free from Lazio, this deal is likely to be announced in July once his contract expires in Italy.

The arrival of Riad, in particular, solves a problem of lack of defensive depth and his arrival could mean a move for another long-linked defender is unlikely.

This comes according to Graeme Bailey who has told We Are Palace that Ronnie Edwards could now be off the list for the Eagles.

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Crystal Palace could now abandon Ronnie Edwards move

Ronnie Edwards has been a target of Crystal Palace for a long time and this summer always seemed to be the likely time for him to be signed.

Now, Graeme Bailey has told We Are Palace that a move for Peterborough’s prized possession could be off the cards.

“Palace were strongly linked and have had bids turned down previously”, he explained after revealing interest from Everton, Newcastle and Brighton.

He then added that a Palace move could now be abandoned: “With their signing of Chadi Riad, it remains to be seen if they will rekindle their interest.”

Palace not moving for Edwards does make sense considering he’d be another relatively unproven and inexperienced defender and with Riad already filling that gap this summer, Edwards isn’t needed.

Crystal Palace can’t replace Marc Guehi with Ronnie Edwards

With one centre-back already signed, a second must be of a differing profile to Riad and must be an experienced, first-team-ready player.

This would be assuming that Marc Guehi ends up being sold, something which has looked likely for a while now.

Maxence Lacroix would be our top pick for this as he’s someone Glasner knows all about and he’d be ready to make an impact immediately at the club.

We’ll have to wait and see what Palace do, but one thing is certain another defender would be a good signing.

The post Exclusive: Crystal Palace may now abandon interest in long-term target after £15m Chadi Riad deal appeared first on We are Palace.