Crystal Palace have joined the race to sign FCSB forward Ianis Stoica after Premier League rivals Arsenal had a bid rejected for the Romania U21 international, as reported by PlaySport.
Gigi Becali, FCSB’s always outspoken president, has made sure not to miss an opportunity to tell Stoica’s suitors what they need to do in order to lure the 18-year-old whizzkid away from the Romanian giants.
They need to wait.
“Things are clear with Ianis Stoica,” explained the always-outspoken Becali.
“You will not see 18 or 19-year-old players leave. I’m not going to let go of young footballers from FCSB after two or three showers taken in my team’s locker room.”
You can’t blame the likes of Crystal Palace for trying, however.
If, as some believe, Stoica is one of the most talented Romanian footballers of recent history, it makes sense for The Eagles to make their move now, before a jet-heeled winger who models his game on Kylian Mbappe hones his talents further and sends his price-tag skyrocketing.
Could Ianis Stoica join Crystal Palace instead of Arsenal?
Becali has already turned down a £6.5 million bid from Arsenal.
Speaking in December, Becali added that the bidding for Stoica would have to start at £8.5 million, though his determination to keep hold of the teenage forward suggests that, even if Palace were to stump up such a fee, reaching an agreement with the club formerly known as Steaua Bucharest may be easier said than done.
According to PlaySport, who broke the news of Vitaliy Mykolenko’s £18 million move to Everton a few weeks ago, Crystal Palace have joined Arsenal in the race for Stoica’s signature.
The Bucharest-born speedster, who has scored seven goals in 18 games this term, perfectly fits Palace’s revamped transfer strategy, revolving around up-and-coming talents with plenty of re-sale value.
“I think I’ll earn a lot of money (for Stoica),” adds Becali, who has previously discussed Premier League interest in fellow FCSB graduates Florinel Coman and Darius Olaru.
“Arsenal watched him but it’s fine. Maybe in a year or two, they can sign him but, for now, Ianis is not for sale.
“He is strong, he has physicality, he has strength. He’s very smart. If you talk to him, you wouldn’t say he’s 18, you’d say he’s 23.”
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