Crystal Palace are hoping to hijack Fulham’s deal to sign Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed on a permanent basis, according to the Sun (9 August, page 67).
While this ankle-biting terrier of a midfielder might not have dominated the headlines like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Tom Cairney and co in 2019/20, make no mistake – his importance to Scott Parker’s promotion-winning campaign should not be underestimated.
Reed is no swaggering frontman or face-shredding, Stratocaster-wielding rock god.
But every great band needs a drummer, setting the tempo in the shadows, eternally underappreciated but equally important. And that is where Reed comes in.
The Telegraph reports that Fulham can sign the 25-year-old defensive midfielder in an £8 million deal after beating Brentford in the play-off final.
But that is an option, not an obligation. Southampton can still say ‘no’ in favour of setting up a bidding war with Crystal Palace.
There is, of course, a chance that Reed will be offered a second chance at St Mary’s with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg expected to complete his long-awaited move to Tottenham Hotspur sooner rather than later.
The Sun reports that Ralph Hasenhuttl is mulling over Reed’s future.
Though if Weston McKennie arrives from Schalke to step into Hojbjerg’s shoes, expect Crystal Palace to make a move for a man capable of providing an injection of youthful exuberance into the heart of a midfield which looked exhausted in the final weeks of 2019/20.
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