Crystal Palace should grab second opportunity to sign winger Gregoire Defrel

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Crystal Palace were previously heavily linked with Gregoire Defrel.

According to the latest reports by Gianluca Di Marzio, on-loan winger Gregiore Defrel is to leave Roma this summer as the Serie A title challengers look to freshen up their first-team squad.

The 26-year-old joined Roma last summer on loan from Sassuolo for the season, with the Champions League semi-finalists having a clause obliging them to sign him on a permanent basis if he complies with sporting objectives.

Defrel, however, featured sporadically for Roma and the latest reports from Italy claim the club will not be keeping him on, creating an opportunity for another side to come in for him this summer.

The news could be of interest to Crystal Palace who, alongside the recently-relegated Swansea City, were supposedly keen to sign him back in 2016 when his stock was at its highest according to Wales Online.

With Swansea suffering relegation to the Championship, the Welsh side clearly won’t be revitalising any interest in the talented winger, but Palace on the other hand may have been handed a second opportunity to acquire him.

A report in Football Italia even claimed Palace were knocked back with a £11.2 million offer, with then-boss Alan Pardew keen to bring him in and bulk up the Eagles’ attacking ranks.

Defrel can feature on either flank as a wide forward, and his record at Sassuolo over two Serie A campaigns – 19 goals and five assists – shows he has plenty of ability and an eye for goal.

The Eagles are in need of adding extra creativity and a goal threat from wide areas in a bid to relieve the pressure and burden on Selhurst Park favourite Wilfried Zaha; therefore Defrel once again represents a suitable target.

Roy Hodgson’s men will be keen to build on last season and push for a top-half position next term but, with supposed lesser finances than their rivals, they will have to be savvy in the upcoming transfer market.

Defrel has not suddenly lost his ability despite his struggles in the Italian capital, and he could thrive in an environment such as Selhurst Park when given extra responsibility and thought of as key player.