Crystal Palace have enjoyed a busy start to the summer transfer window, and Patrick Vieira can keep the pace up by looking to re-sign these former Eagles players to improve his side.
Sam Johnstone and Malcolm Ebiowei have already moved to south London as the Selhurst Park natives strive to build on last season’s 12th-place Premier League finish. Vieira added a new spark after replacing Roy Hodgson last year, with Crystal Palace a much livelier unit.
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Breakout talents Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell played a key part in Vieira setting his side with strong foundations. But the Arsenal icon now wants to build on his initial results, so is reportedly eying deals for Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White and Emmanuel Dennis of Watford.
Vieira had also hoped to add Flynn Downes to his engine room in an £8m transfer after the 23-year-old shone across 37 Championship games last season, per the Daily Mail. But West Ham United hi-jacked negotiations with Swansea City to seal a £12m swoop this Thursday.
Crystal Palace can still improve Vieira’s side by re-signing a number of their former players, though. So, with that in mind, who should the Eagles boos try to get back to Selhurst Park?
Vieira should strive to re-sign former Crystal Palace player Wan-Bissaka
One former Crystal Palace player Vieira should strive to re-sign this summer is Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Red Devils have put the England ace up for sale, per Sky Sports. While 90min report the Eagles are favourites to sign him on loan, as well.
Manchester United would prefer to permanently part with their £50m arrival from Crystal Palace in 2019. But Old Trafford chiefs would not snub a season-long switch, so long as the move features an obligation to buy next year after he fall majorly out of favour last season.
The 24-year-old only played 20 Premier League games after facing heightened competition from Diogo Dalot under interim boss Ralf Rangnick. So, Vieira could now give Wan-Bissaka a chance to hit reset in familiar settings, should he re-sign the former Crystal Palace player.
Crystal Palace can re-sign Loftus-Cheek to replace another Chelsea man Gallagher
Vieira is considering a move for Wolves midfielder Gibbs-White as he bids to replace Conor Gallagher after the Chelsea prospect’s productive loan spell. The four-cap England maestro offered eight goals and three assists across his 34 Premier League outings in south London.
But the Eagles boss can look to replace one Chelsea player with another by seeing Crystal Palace re-sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He spent the 2017/18 season on loan at Selhurst Park, in which the 26-year-old offered four assists and two goals from 24 top-flight appearances.
Loftus-Cheek’s return to Stamford Bridge is still to see the 10-cap Three Lions ace be a firm first-team fixture, though. He made 24 league outings last term but only started 13 games, yet still provided three assists under Thomas Tuchel to show Vieira he could be impactful.
Vieira should see Crystal Palace re-sign Sorloth to add further goal depth
Vieira should see Crystal Palace strive to re-sign Alexander Sorloth to add further depth to his goalscoring unit this summer. Wilfried Zaha ended the 2021/22 Premier League term as the top-scorer with 14 to Gallagher (8), Odsonne Edouard (6) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (5).
Gallagher was also the Eagles’ top-scorer from open play with none of his eight coming at set-pieces. While Zaha converted five penalties, and Mateta flashed in from two set-piece routines. Sorloth, on the other hand, hit seven in all competitions, with one at a set-piece.
Sorloth has now returned to RB Leipzig after spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad for 42 appearances. His Txuri-Urdin efforts also included the 42-cap Norway striker netting in a La Liga draw at Atletico Madrid, and in a Copa del Rey win over Diego Simeone’s outfit.
Crystal Palace should consider Van Aanholt return to support Mitchell
Crystal Palace should consider re-signing Patrick van Aanholt this summer to offer Mitchell extra support at left-back next season. Vieira will be loath to see the 22-year-old suffer any burnout during the 2022/23 term, should he play at the World Cup after his England debut.
Gareth Southgate will have Mitchell on his mind for the Qatar tournament after including the London-born dynamo in his plans in March. He more than merited a maiden call-up to the Three Lions squad, having gone from strength to strength since Palace appointed Vieira.
Mitchell rarely had a rest last season, though, so further outings with England could put his fitness to the test. Van Aanholt, then, would offer Crystal Palace a worthy player to have to hand, should Vieira feel the former Brentford prospect needs taking out for a game or two.
Vieira can add defensive strength by re-signing former Eagles loanee Egan
Viera can add extra strength to his defensive line by re-signing former Crystal Palace player John Egan of Sheffield United. The centre-half only enjoyed a brief stint in south London in 2012 after penning a short-term loan deal from Sunderland, in which he played two games.
But the 29-year-old has shown he can offer Vieira far more than he managed under Dougie Freedman in the Championship. Egan anchored the Blades’ backline last season in all 48 of their second-tier games, including play-offs, but missed out on Premier League promotion.
The 26-cap Republic of Ireland ace is a cut above Championship defenders and deserves to play in the top-flight. So, given Vieira only has three out-and-out centre-backs in his side, Crystal Palace should try to re-sign their former player to prevent a possible crisis of depth.
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