Daniel Munoz admits a Premier League move is his ‘big dream’ with KRC Gent reluctant to stand in the defender’s should Crystal Palace step up their pursuit of a £10 million January deal.
A week ago, Roy Hodgson admitted Crystal Palace’s interest in bringing Kalvin Phillips to Selhurst Park on loan from Manchester City. With the England international now on his way to London rivals West Ham United instead, the feeling of doom and deepening gloom among the Palace support will not have been eased by the sight of a confirmed transfer target slipping through Hodgson’s fingers and joining a club only a few miles down the road.
But what about the other Crystal Palace target Hodgson spoke about on January 16th? The former Three Lions boss did not hide the fact that he had been made aware of the £10 million-rated Daniel Munoz, insisting that the Eagles-linked right-back ‘looks good’.
Crystal Palace like Genk right-back Daniel Munoz
You can say that again.
Munoz is one of Europe’s most free-scoring full-backs – he has found the net 15 times while setting up nine more since the start of last season – and could be the top-level right-back Crystal Palace have been crying out for ever since Aaron Wan-Bissaka left for Manchester United nearly five years ago.
Munoz, meanwhile, is making no secret of his desire to bring those lung-busting runs and box-crashing abilities to English football either.
“The Premier League is my big dream,” Munoz tells Het Laaste Nieuws.
A bargain at £10 million
Wouter Vrancken, Genk’s head coach, accepts that the Colombia international is somethnig of a big fish in a small Belgian pond these days. The Jupiler League giants are unlikely to stand in his way, either, if Palace stump up a fee in the £10 million bracket.
“We have often discussed that it is strange that Munoz still plays football in Belgium,” Vrancken explains. “Then, we shouldn’t stand on our hind legs when a club reports (to sign him).
“I hope he stays, but you know (a departure) can happen.”
HITC Football understands that Crystal Palace are also looking to bring in a forward, amid interest in Chelsea’s Armando Broja and AZ Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis. Jhon Cordoba of Russian outfit Krasnodar has also been linked.
HITC has been informed that Palace could make a late move for Celtic playmaker Matt O’Riley too.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
