Manchester City are reportedly considering a late move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.
Despite there being plenty of attacking talent already in their squad, Man City officials are debating whether they need to bring in a replacement following Julian Alvarez’s transfer to Atletico Madrid. If they do, Eze is reportedly at the top of their wish list. The 26-year-old has been a standout performer for Crystal Palace and won’t come cheap, with the South London club expected to demand a minimum of £60 million for their star player.
Manchester City had previously shown interest in Eze last season following Ilkay Gundogan’s departure to Barcelona and Kevin De Bruyne’s injury. However, they opted to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Nunes instead. Despite the hefty transfer fee paid for Nunes, Pep Guardiola has reportedly been underwhelmed by the Portuguese midfielder’s impact, leading to speculation that Nunes might be sold this summer, potentially opening the door for a move for Eze.
After stints in the academies of Arsenal, Fulham, and Reading, he was released by Millwall at 18. It was EFL Championship side Queens Park Rangers who gave him a chance, and he seized it, making 112 appearances and scoring 20 goals for the club. His performances caught the eye of Crystal Palace, who signed him for £17 million in 2020.
Though Eze faced some challenges in his first two seasons at Palace, he has since developed into one of their key players. Whether deployed as a winger or an attacking midfielder, Eze has impressed with his dribbling skills and ability to score goals, netting 21 times in the Premier League over the past two seasons. The attacker made his debut for the England national team in 2023 and has gone on to make 7 appearances. Eze was also selected for the recently concluded UEFA Euros.
Eze’s potential arrival at Manchester City would add further depth and versatility to their attacking options. Guardiola may opt to use Jack Grealish or Kevin De Bruyne as a false nine in the absence of Erling Haaland, with Eze slotting into their usual positions. More updates are expected in the coming days.
