Crystal Palace target Filip Kostic is the ‘best in the Bundesliga’ and worth £50 million at least in today’s market, Eintracht Frankfurt legend Jurgen Grabowski has told BILD.
While the likes of Jadon Sancho, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski will have something to say about this, a jet-heeled Serbian international certainly had a season to remember in 2019/20.
With 12 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, few players in Germany contributed more frequently in the final third with Kostic, an old-school, chalk-booted winger, proving to be more influential than ever before at a Frankfurt side adapting to the departures of Sebastien Haller, Ante Rebic and Luka Jovic.
The Sun (23 February, page 63) reported that Crystal Palace could turn to the former Stuttgart flyer if star man Wilf Zaha departs at long last this summer.
But if Grabowski had his way, Palace would have to obliterate their transfer record to bring Kostic to Selhurst Park.
“Filip Kostic is the best forward in the Bundesliga. Even if he was a little tired recently,” said the former West Germany international, who won the World Cup in 1974.
“And while most of them beat their opponents on the flank, Kostic crosses from the distress because he runs to the last meter (of the pitch), to the last second and still brings the ball past the defender.”
“When I read that it should cost £25 million – that’s a joke! It’s worth at least £50 million!”
With Palace owner Steve Parish keeping his chequebook closed over the last few transfer windows, it remains to be seen whether the Eagles will pay £25 million – never mind £50 million – for a player who would walk into their starting XI regardless of whether Zaha stays or goes.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
