Crystal Palace have joined the race for Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic and are willing to meet the Serbia international’s £50,000-a-week wage demands, as reported by Estadio Deportivo.
Luka Milivojevic could be joined by a very familiar face at Selhurst Park this summer.
Because Maksimovic, his long-serving Serbia teammate, will be a free agent on 1 July.
And, unsurprisingly, clubs from all corners of the continent are queuing up to sign a proven, experienced central defender who Carlo Ancelotti described as an “excellent” talent during their time together at the Stadio San Paulo.
Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Ancelotti’s Everton have all been linked since the turn of the year.
Reports coming out of Spain, meanwhile, have thrown another Premier League name into the frame – Crystal Palace.
Then again, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann and Gary Cahill all face uncertain futures at Selhurst Park and Maksimovic would be a low-cost, high-reward addition.
Estadio Deportivo claims Crystal Palace are willing to offer Maksimovic the £50,000-a-week contract he craves. The 29-year-old’s agent, meanwhile, has offered his client to Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, although the La Liga giants have yet to bite.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis are also in the market for a new stopper, with the influential Aissa Mandi turning down a chance to extend his stay at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Estadio claims Mandi, a long-standing transfer target for Liverpool, has “no intention” of signing a new contract.
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