Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of ex-Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser and will offer the Fulham target a three-year contract at Selhurst Park, according to the Mirror (20 August, page 57).
Like the majority of a talented Cherries squad, a diminutive Scotland international did his once glittering reputation no good at all during a disastrous campaign.
Only Eden Hazard set up more Premier League goals than Fraser in 2018/19 – but his productivity dropped from seven strikes and 14 assists to one and four as Bournemouth’s lengthy stay in the top-flight came to an end.
Fraser didn’t help himself either, walking away in July when his contract expired rather than sticking around to help his team-mates in the middle of a relegation battle.
Now, the former Aberdeen youngster will be offered a Premier League lifeline – but any hopes he had of joining an Arsenal, a Liverpool or a Tottenham have gone up in smoke.
These days, he is in the crosshairs of a newly-promoted Fulham side and a Crystal Palace team who failed to win any of their final eight games in 2019/20.
The phrase ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ comes to mind.
The Mirror claims that Palace are in pole position as it stands, set to offer Fraser a three-year deal. It remains to be seen whether Roy Hodgson’s side are willing to fork out the £100,000-a-week that the 26-year-old is asking for (Times in June).
If one of English football’s quickest players can get back to his barnstorming best, he could be one of the summer’s finest signings.
Another season like the last one, however, will have Palace fans more worried than ever about life without Wilfried Zaha.
It is surely no coincidence that Fraser and Zaha play in the same left-wing role.
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