Crystal Palace will not be taking Lee Jae-Sung to the Premier League this summer with the South Korea international completing a move to Mainz, as reported by Kicker.
As far as Lee is concerned, this is an opportunity a long time coming.
The versatile attacker has been one of the most influential forwards in Germany’s second tier throughout the last three seasons.
After Holstein Kiel lost to Cologne in the relegation play-offs in May, Lee must have feared that he would once again miss out on the chance to prove himself in a major European league.
You would imagine, then, that the 28-year-old jumped at the chance to put pen to paper with Mainz, even if a move to the Opel Arena means his hopes of realising that Premier League dream now look more and more unlikely.
Should Crystal Palace have signed the Bundesliga newcomer?
Kicker reported in May that Crystal Palace had shown an interest in the left-footed schemer.
But, after the Eagles failed to challenge Mainz for his signature, Lee will be looking to show Palace what they are missing as he prepares to play Bundesliga football for the first time.
“Jae-sung was one of the best players in the second division, and has been consistently for several years. He is incredibly strong on the offensive and flexible in attack,” coach Bo Svensson explained of a man who scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 2020/21.
“Here, in Mainz, my dream of playing in the Bundesliga is coming true,” Lee added.
Crystal Palace have signed a gifted attacking midfielder of their own this week of course, with Michael Olise joining from Reading after the Londoners triggered the £8 million release clause in his contract – much to the frustration of Liverpool fans who wanted the Frenchman to bring his devilish set-pieces and defence-splitting through balls to Anfield instead.
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