After Crystal Palace beat Premier League rivals Wolves 3-1 over in the USA, a beaming Oliver Glasner delighted at the prospect of a bright future at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles boss ‘really enjoyed’ the contribution of Asher Agbinone. An 18-year-old winger who came off the bench to curl home the late decider in Maryland.
Agbinone was one of a handful teenagers who made a positive impression, however, the likes of Roshaun Mathurin and Justin Devenney seizing the chance to make their mark during the American tour.
But while they are only just getting started, the ship may have sailed for another talented young footballer who rose through the ranks in Crystal Palace’s academy.
Malachi Boateng joined Palace’s youth system at just 11.
But a decade later and with a now-22-year-old Boateng still yet to make even the briefest of Premier League outings, the same pathway that could be afforded to Agbinone and co appears full of obstacles for a midfielder who’s future now appears to lie away from South London.
Hearts confirm interest in Crystal Palace’s Malachi Boateng
Boateng, despite a lack of first-team chances at Palace, has developed quite a reputation for himself north of the border in recent times.
The London-born schemer was crowned the Supporters’ Player of the Year during a loan spell at Queen’s Park in 2022/23.
Boateng also spent last season at Dundee, playing 36 times as the Dens Park outfit secured a top half finish while proving himself more than capable of making his mark in the top-flight of Scottish football.
His reward for that stellar Dundee stint could now be a permanent switch to Heart of Midlothian. The Daily Record reports that Hearts are frontrunners despite interest from England.
And manager Steven Naismith has not yet given up on having Boateng in his squad for Saturday lunchtime’s Premiership opener with Rangers.
“Hopefully,” Naismith tells The Scotsman when asked if Hearts can get Boateng through the door. “We’ll see if he’s involved or not (against Rangers). That’s at the end point.
“There have been a couple of things that have dragged it on a bit but we hope to have a clear solution to that today (Friday) before anything kicks off tomorrow.
“I don’t think I need to sell (Scottish football) to him too much,” the former Everton and Norwich City forward adds. “Because he’s showed in his time in Scotland – first at Queen’s Park and then last season at Dundee – where he played a really big part in their good season.”
Selhurst Park exit on the cards
Naismith feels that, while Boateng earned rave reviews at Dundee, the true extent of his abilities have gone somewhat under the radar. While a defensively-minded player at heart, Boateng is just as effective on the ball as he is without it.
Given that Naismith wants to make Hearts one of the league’s most dominant sides in possession, the Palace prospect could be a transformative addition.
“He’s probably underrated because he does a lot of the defensive side of things,” Naismith explains. “He is athletic, he has a physicality about him and he’s comfortable receiving the ball in the middle of the pitch which is a really good quality to have.”
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