Gazientep striker Denis Dragus has a good chance of securing a summer move to the Premier League with his agent suggesting that West Ham United or Crystal Palace may be a sensible destination.
Those au fait with how Florin Manea operated during the Radu Dragusin saga – telling anyone who would listen just how many clubs wanted to sign the defender before his £26 million move to Tottenham Hotspur – will not be surprised to see the motor-mouth representative go public with his plans to secure a big move for Denis Dragus too.
The seven-time Romania international, Manea adds, should not expect to follow in Dragusin’s footsteps at a ‘top six’ club. But a team lower down the table – West Ham or Crystal Palace for instance – could make sense for a forward impressing on loan at Gazientep from Standard Liege.
West Ham or Crystal Palace mentioned for striker
“I’m talking to Denis,” Manea tells Fanatik. “Dragus plays well. I always talk to him. I want to collaborate with him, I want to help him (and) I would like to bring him to England.
“He has Premier League value, but we are not talking about the top five (club). We are talking about a West Ham, a Crystal Palace.
“We have already had a few discussions. He was also close to Stoke City before going to Gaziantep. The way he prepares now and how he plays, he has a chance (of getting a big move).
“He plays well in Europe, the chances are high that he will come to the Premier League”
Dragus is likely to be part of Romania’s Euro 2024 squad. With 13 goals in all competitions – and 11 in Turkey’s Super Lig – this is already the most prolific campaign of the well-travelled 24-year-old’s career.
Florin Manea looking to strike another big transfer
“He is a player I like a lot. It destabilises (defenders). He has started to score,” the always outspoken agent adds. “Let’s hope, let’s see what happens.
“The European Championships will be decisive for him. If he plays well (at Euro 2024), the chances are high that he will come to the Premier League. That’s what I say.”
It remains to be seen whether West Ham or Crystal Palace do have any interest in the 6ft, Budapest-born centre-forward. HITC Football understands that the London duo are in the market for attacking additions, however. There is interest at both clubs in Vangelis Pavlidis, the AZ Alkmaar talisman who took his tally to 50 in the Eredivisie over the weekend.
Manea, meanwhile, admits that Bayern Munich and Napoli tried to sign Dragusin before Spurs won the race, while Newcastle United also showed an interest in the former Genoa stopper.
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