Crystal Palace are interested in signing Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, so will hope he can fare better at Selhurst Park than these four Premier League-era arrivals from Wolves.
Gibbs-White has forced his way onto Patrick Vieira’s radar after a strong season on loan at Sheffield United last term. The midfielder helped the Blades enter the Championship play-offs after scoring 12 and assisting 10 goals, and he is now set for a step up to the top-flight.
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Wolves have rarely afforded the 22-year-old many opportunities to prove his potential as a Premier League player at Molineux. He has only played 46 fixtures from four seasons in the division, while starting just 10 games, for 1,188 minutes – he played 3,084 at Bramall Lane.
Crystal Palace are interested in signing Gibbs-White from Wolves this summer
Gibbs-White’s performances at Sheffield United impressed a host of Premier League clubs, as The Sun claim Crystal Palace are now looking to rival Southampton and play-off winners Nottingham Forest for the Wolves product’s services in a £20m tug of war this off-season.
The England U21 international is also determined to secure regular top-flight minutes next season after missing out on promotion with the Blades. And he could do so at Everton, as Sky Sports report Frank Lampard is planning an official offer but Wolves may ask for £25m.
Vieira has marked Gibbs-White as a target who can replace the creativity Conor Gallagher offered whilst on loan from Chelsea. The Arsenal icon is adamant the Eagles must refresh his offensive options after Gallagher provided eight goals and assisted five over 39 games.
But Wolves’ asking price being in the region of the club-record £27m paid to Liverpool for Christian Benteke could restrict Crystal Palace’s interest in Gibbs-White. It would also leave the Eagles keen to see him outperform these Premier League-era arrivals from Molineux…
Sako struggled to shine after leaving Wolves for Crystal Palace to worry Gibbs-White
Bakary Sako struggled to shine after leaving Wolves for Crystal Palace in 2015 under Alan Pardew to potentially now concern Gibbs-White amid Vieira’s interest. The Mali midfielder joined the Eagles over West Brom, per The Guardian, after his contract at Molineux ended.
He would see out all three years of the contract the Selhurst Park natives offered to snub the Baggies. But Sako only offered eight goals and one assist over 50 appearances and 19 starts for 2,037 minutes in all competitions. Yet he returned for four more games in 2019.
Gibbs-White will not want to repeat Wolves hero Doyle amid Crystal Palace interest
Kevin Doyle left Wolves as a club hero to join Crystal Palace, but only served to warm the bench at Selhurst Park. During his half-season in south London, the striker made just five appearances for one goal – struck in the FA Cup at Dover Athletic – and started one game.
His Wolves run was vastly superior between joining for a then club-record £6.5m in 2009 and joining the Eagles on loan in 2014. The Republic of Ireland striker struck 34 goals and created a further 23 over 173 games, while playing six games after his Selhurst Park stay.
Injury ruined Kennedy’s career at Crystal Palace before Cardiff came calling
Crystal Palace signed Mark Kennedy in a free transfer from Wolves in 2006 after the left-back rejected a new contract. He would prove to be a mainstay at Selhurst Park through the 35-cap Republic of Ireland star’s first term, but an injury then ruined his run in 2007.
After making 40 appearances through the 2006/07 season, Kennedy only turned out eight times in ‘07/08. His final appearance in a Crystal Palace shirt also came in November 2007 before Cardiff City came calling the following summer, where he would stay for two years.
Gibbs-White will want greater role than Emblen had amid Crystal Palace interest
Gibbs-White would hope to earn a greater role at Selhurst Park than Neil Emblen enjoyed during his difficult year in south London. The Eagles had bought the midfielder in 1997 in a £2m deal but as administration loomed large, Wolves wrote off £900k and took him back.
Emblen’s return to Molineux wrote a line under his Selhurst Park stay that featured just 14 games. He also admitted to CPFC.co.uk in 2020: “I was a good Championship player and I could affect games there. But in the Premier League, even the early days, it was tough.”
He added: “If I’m honest, I was happy to go back to Wolves. I felt wanted; I felt like I was part of something there and I enjoyed my time. When the opportunity came back, I felt like I’d had a loan spell [with Crystal Palace] that hadn’t worked out and I was back.”
Gibbs-White, like Emblen in the 1990s, has proven he has the ability to play at the top-end of the Championship to now merit transfer interest from Premier League teams like Crystal Palace. So, the Eagles will hope he can make the step up to the top-flight, unlike Emblen.
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