Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend is backing the £14 million pursuit of Eberechi Eze, telling talkSPORT (26 August, 9.30am) that the Queens Park Rangers talisman would be a ‘hell of a signing’ for the Eagles.
In truth, QPR boss Mark Warburton would have known from day dot that this London-born 22-year-old had a short shelf life at Loftus Road.
After Rangers failed to mount anything like a convincing promotion challenge in 2019/20, Eze’s departure has felt inevitable for quite a while now.
Crystal Palace are closing in on an initial £14 million deal which could rise to £19.5 million, with the London-born England U21 international expected to sign a £50,000-a-week deal at Selhurst Park (the Sun, August 26, page 50).
Only bottom-of-the-table Norwich scored fewer goals than Palace last season (31 goals in 38 games), and Townsend believes the arrival of Eze should sharpen Roy Hodgson’s blunt forward line.
“He looks like some player, he’ll be a hell of a signing for us. Hopefully we can get it over the line,” says the England international.
“He’s very skilful and direct, he will definitely give us that freshness in attack. We didn’t score enough or create enough last season, he could help us get on the score sheet more frequently.”
Eze, who has turned down Fulham, Leeds and West Brom in order to pull on those blue and red stripes, is perhaps the most naturally gifted English footballer currently plying his trade in the Football League.
But, after strutting his stuff in the number ten shirt once worn with distinction by Stan Bowles at QPR, it remains to be seen what role Eze will play in Hodgson’s team.
After all, Palace do not often play with an orthodox enganche. Perhaps Eze will be tasked with adapting to a deeper role. Or maybe he will take over from Wilfried Zaha on the left-hand side.
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