Premier League rivals Southampton and Crystal Palace look set to miss out on Andreaw Gravillon as the defender closes in on a £3 million move away from Serie A champions Inter Milan, as reported by L’Equipe.
With a trio of elite-level centre-halves ahead of him in the pecking order – Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar and the ever-improving Alessandro Bastoni – Gravillon would have known deep down he’d have to wake up from his San Siro dream at some point.
The 23-year-old centre-back has yet to make a single appearance in that iconic blue and black shirt, two years after joining Inter from a Pescara side that gave us Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti.
Gravillon has taken in a remarkable four loan spells during the past two seasons. But, after impressing at Lorient last term, he’s now expected to complete a deal that would see him cut ties with Inter for good.
Will Southampton or Crystal Palace still move for Gravillon?
Ligue 1 outfit Reims are close to an agreement, with the Guadeloupe-born giant set to join for a fee of between £3 million and £4 million.
“It will always be difficult to succeed at a club like Inter, even for great players,” Gravillon said in April when asked about his future, pointing out even a player as great as Christian Eriksen found game time hard to come by at the Italian giants.
“If Inter decide they want to keep me one day, it will mean I’ve managed to do my job and they’re counting on me. What matters is to play, show who I am and make a name for myself.”
Crystal Palace and Southampton were willing to give Gravillon the chance to do just that, according to FootMercato, and it remains to be seen whether the Saints or Eagles attempt to hijack Reims’ deal before it’s too late.
New Palace manager Patrick Vieira will make Reading whizzkid Michael Olise his first signing at Selhurst Park but many more are required with 11 first-team players out of contract.
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