Premier League outfit Crystal Palace have scouted Tomas Ribeiro ahead of a potential deadline-day bid for the Belenenses defender, as reported by A Bola.
Considering that the Eagles have already spent around £40 million on two centre-halves this summer – snapping up Marc Guehi from Chelsea and former Fulham captain Joachim Andersen – it remains to be seen how Ribeiro would feel about joining a club where first-team opportunities may be few and far between.
With less than 12 hours remaining before the window closes, the Lisbon-born 22-year-old has a decision to make.
Does he stay at Belenenses – a big fish in a relatively small pond – or put his buoyancy to the test in the choppy waters of English football?
According to A Bola, Crystal Palace sent a scout to watch Ribeiro during the 1-1 Primeira Liga draw with Moreirense on Friday.
Was this the captain’s final game for Belenenses? We will have an answer to that particular question come 1:00am this morning.
Will Crystal Palace sign another centre-back?
“I cannot guarantee that Tomas Ribeiro will stay, as I cannot guarantee any other member of the squad,” said Belenenses president Rui Pedro Soares.
The top-flight outfit have already sold striker Mateo Cassierra to Russian side FC Sochi despite interest from West Bromwich Albion.
“Tomas Ribeiro has several concrete offers. He knows that our desire is to continue (with him), but we must understand that, like Cassierra, the salary offer he’s received is stratospheric compared to what we can pay.
“As of today, Tomas has not asked to leave. I would very much like him to stay.”
It is not certain, at this stage, whether that ‘stratospheric’ offer came from Crystal Palace or one of the defender’s other suitors.
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