Timothy Castagne has shone in Serie A with Atalanta but is he the man to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Premier League outfit Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palace are now confident of signing Atalanta’s Belgium international Timothy Castagne as this long-running transfer saga takes another twist, according to The Mail.
It is over a month now since Aaron Wan-Bissaka walked away from the club where he made his name, swapping the loyal Selhurst Park crowd for the bright lights of Old Trafford.
And Palace have found that signing a replacement is easier said than done. Max Aarons committed his future to Norwich City, James Justin joined Leicester City instead and Nathanial Clyne is no longer an option either after suffering a horrifying cruciate ligament injury.
Fortunately, however, a deal that looked to be dead might still be alive and well.
Castagne looked set to sign a new contract at Atalanta, who qualified for the Champions League for the first time last season. But the high-flying Italians have apparently failed to meet the demands of their rampaging right-back.
And this hasn’t gone unnoticed at Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson’s side are apparently ‘confident’ of snapping up a full-back who’s speed and swashbuckling style has seen him replace PSG’s Thomas Meunier in the starting XI for the Belgium national team.
Het Nieuwsblad believes that Castagne will cost around £17 million. And while that is hardly a drop in the ocean, it is still far less than Palace sold Wan-Bissaka for.
Whisper it but this could be very good business, both from a financial and a sporting sense.
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