Crystal Palace and Southampton could now miss out on £9m striker Haji Wright

Follow us on Google Discover

Crystal Palace could miss out on Haji Wright with the reported Premier League target now in talks to join Serie A giants Inter Milan instead.

With the Turkish Super Lig’s top scorers list reading like a who’s who of grizzled veterans – Enner Valencia leading the way, Fabio Borini, Mbaye Diagne and Bafetimbi Gomis bringing up the rear – 25-year-old Haji Wright breaks the mould. 

He is one of only two players in the Super Lig’s top ten top scorers under the age of 28. Wright has 12 goals in 20 games for Antalyaspor, 13 in all competitions; His form not going unnoticed as the summer transfer window looms on the horizon. 

“It’s true that Atalanta and Crystal Palace want Haji Wright,” the America international’s agent told the Lider Gazette in January.

“His name is also mentioned with Fenerbahce. But I don’t see the possibility of going to another team in Turkey high.

“Antalyaspor want 10 million (£9 million).” 

Haji Wright a Crystal Palace target but now Inter Milan want him

Even with their well-publicised financial issues, £9 million is not a fee Inter Milan will struggle to stump up. Tuttomercatoweb believe that, with all due respect to Roy Hodgson’s relegation-threatened Palace, Wright now has rather bigger offers on the table. 

Inter have held initial talks for the California-born targetman, who scored a bizarre goal against the Netherlands at the Qatar World Cup. Wright, a 6ft 3ins ‘number nine’, could potentially replace Romelu Lukaku upon his return to Chelsea. Edin Dzeko also celebrated his 37^th birthday earlier in March. 

According to Ajansspor, former Schalke youngster Wright also held negotiations with Southampton in January; the Saints turning to the similarly towering Paul Onuachu instead.  

“I always call Haji our dazzling beauty,” Schalke youth coach Norbert Elgert once told SBI of Wright. “He has a very high speed with and without ball. (Wright) can use both feet, has good dribbling (skills) and is very dangerous.

“He offers a lot of good for a really good striker. If he continues to work hard, strengthen his strengths and weaken his weaknesses, he can become a really interesting player. He still has a lot of potential.”