Crystal Palace may break transfer record to sign “crazy” Guehi replacement
After only conceding 58 goals in the Premier League last campaign, Oliver Glasner will be looking to be one of the more defensively secure teams yet again, continuing with his five-back system, using wing-backs to provide width going forwards.
A main asset for Crystal Palace in their defensive structure, is of course, Marc Guehi, who’s impressive season earned him a starting spot at Euro 2024, after the injury to Harry Maguire. Now it is looking increasingly likely he could leave this summer, with Newcastle among those interested.
Guehi made 29 appearances for Palace last season in all competitions, providing one assist, and contributing to eight clean sheets in his 2,254 minutes played. He also captained the Eagles on ten occasions.
Crystal Palace transfer news
According to reports in Germany, Crystal Palace are interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender, Odilon Kossounou. However, it is believed a record fee would be required to get him out of Leverkusen with the Bundesliga side demanding around £34m.
The most Palace have ever paid for a player was Christian Benteke for a fee of £27m.
Other interested clubs include Liverpool, who enquired about the 23-year-old earlier in the summer, but their interest seems to have cooled in recent weeks, according to the reports.
Kossounou made 34 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen last season, scoring one goal, and contributing to 14 clean sheets in his 2,295 minutes played.
Guehi vs Kossounou comparison
Back in 2022, Leverkusen’s manager at the time, Gerardo Seoane called Kossounou “valuable” when mentioning his 6 foot 2 frame, and ability from set-pieces. He also spoke about his ability to play in a back three, four, or five, whilst also complementing his pace. With such an array of attributes, it’s hardly a surprise that scout Jacek Kulig said he possessed a “crazy amount of talent”.
Unlike Guehi, who is only 5 foot 11, Kossounou would add a more physical, towering presence to the Palace back line, perhaps helping to improve their poor set piece record last season, only scoring five goals from set pieces, which was joint worst in the league in that metric.
Kossonou is an incredibly underappreciated passer, averaging an unbelievable 6.78 progressive passes per 90, and 7,21 passes into the final third per 90. This is more than double the progressive passes of Guehi and nearly double the number of passes into the final third.
