6 months ago
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Crystal Palace will only entertain offers for star forwards Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise that start at £60m or more for each player.
The Eagles are safe from relegation having secured a club record 12th season of Premier League football, and say that financially they do not need to sell either player.
However, given some of the praise for Eze in particular in recent weeks and the form of Olise, they accept that bids are highly likely to come this summer.
And Palace feel that £60m per player is the starting price for interested teams if they want to enter negotiations.
Both Olise and Eze signed long-term deals this season so Palace are in a strong negotiating position.
Neither contract contains a straightforward release clause and any deal will be complex with percentages due to the player's former club, the players themselves and Crystal Palace.
Last summer Eze was the subject of interest from Manchester City but the champions signed Wolves' Matheus Nunes instead, while Chelsea unsuccessfully attempted to sign Olise for a fee in the region of £35m, thinking they had activated his release clause.
The players are happy at Palace and are keen to make sure that any potential move is one that benefits them, with a particular focus on picking a team that will allow them to show their ability on the ball and demonstrate their attacking flair.
Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy said Eze was "on a different planet" in their 5-2 win over West Ham on Sunday, adding: "He is a Champions League player - I'm sorry, Palace fans. He will not be there next season. This is an unbelievable talent.
"There are going to be so many clubs after him because he can do the lot. A wonderful, wonderful player."
There is a noticeable difference in the way Crystal Palace play when neither Olise or Eze are in the side and the pair have started just six Premier League games together.
They have scored or assisted 13 of the 14 goals in those six games.
Olise and Eze are two of the success stories Palace have signed from the Championship under sporting director Dougie Freedman.
In addition to Olise and Eze, they have also signed Marc Guehi after his spell at Swansea (on loan from Chelsea) and most recently Adam Wharton.
Wharton has already impressed many inside Selhurst Park since his £18m move from Blackburn and he has also caught the eye of other teams in the Premier League.
Wharton’s passing has shone playing in the centre of midfield and his vision has allowed Eze and Olise to get on the ball in dangerous areas.
Another player who could be the subject of transfer bids this summer is England international Guehi.
The 23-year-old has been excellent for the Eagles since signing in 2021 and has gone on to establish himself in the England set-up.
The defender has a good chance of making Gareth Southgate’s squad this summer for the Euros and is entering the last two years of his contract.
