Crystal Palace have joined Premier League newcomers Burnley in the race to sign KRC Genk talisman and the Belgian Player of the Year Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye.
The final few weeks of last season provided a tantalising snapshot of what Crystal Palace could become. With the handbreak off and the shackles removed, Roy Hodgson’s side scored 18 goals during their last 10 Premier League games. They hit five against Leeds United. Four against West Ham.
Ebere Eze and Michael Olise came on leaps and bounds, adding a semblance of consistency to their poise and panache. The prospect of a more reliable centre-forward leading the line, and the addition of a mass-producing assist machine like Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye to join Olise, Eze and maybe even Wilfried Zaha too – should he sign a new deal – could raise hopes of a first top-half finish at Selhurst Park since 2014/15.
With 21 assists – 24 in all competitions – Tresor was a fitting recipient of the Jupiler League’s Player of the Year award. In fact, across all of Europe, only Rayan Philippe of Luxembourg-based outfit FC Swift Hesperange set up more goals for his team-mates, Tresor coming in second ahead of Kevin de Bruyne, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi and co (Transfermarkt).
Crystal Palace join Burnley in race for Mike Tresor
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany is a big fan of the former Willem II schemer.
“I have learned that (Kompany) appreciates my qualities,” Tresor said earlier this month. “That is, of course, just nice to hear. His Burnley play according to a certain philosophy that would make me feel good.
“For me, playing style has always been important in choosing a club.”
Whether Crystal Palace can fight off competition from the Championship champions, then, may depend on the nature of the project on offer at Selhurst Park, the admiration mutual between Kompany and Tresor.
Het Laaste Nieuws report that Palace and Lille have joined Burnley in the race. Both clubs have made inquiries, though not quite a ‘concrete offer’.
All the positivity that surrounded Palace following Hodgson’s return in the spring has stalled a little of late. The Eagles are yet to make a decision about who will be standing in the dugout next term. There remain doubts about Zaha’s future too.
Questions will need to be answered, doubts will need to be addressed, if Palace are to convince Tresor to come along for the ride.
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