Crystal Palace could dip into the Championship again this summer with Sunderland’s Jack Clarke and Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto two options to succeed Michael Olise at the Premier League outfit.
Michael Olise, set for Bayern Munich just three years after joining The Eagles from Reading for a bargain £8 million, is proof of the value that can be found in England’s second tier.
And Crystal Palace have made better use that most of the Championship market in recent times. Ebere Eze moved to South London after dazzling at Queens Park Rangers. Adam Wharton went from Blackburn Rovers to England’s Euro 2024 squad in a matter of months.
And while Marc Guehi technically joined Palace from city rivals Chelsea, his arrival came on the back of a fine loan spell at Swansea City.
It may come as little surprise to the Selhurst Park faithful, then, to learn that two of the Championship’s most exciting attackers have been lined up to potentially take Olise’s place in red-and-blue.
Crystal Palace eye Sunderland winger Jack Clarke
HITC have been told that Palace have been watching Sunderland talisman Jack Clarke closely. They are not alone, however. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brentford, Burnley and Sheffield United are also big admirers of the silky forward.
Sunderland will demand in excess of £20 million, however, due to a sizeable sell-on clause inserted in Clarke’s contract by former employers Tottenham Hotspur.
“I think he is a little bit like Jarrod Bowen, in the sense that he has done very, very well in the Championship for a few years now,” Gary Rowett, who tried to sign Clarke from Millwall, told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports.
“He has got great end product. He has shown that this season. One v one, he can beat a player. I think he can do that at any level.
“I see him a little like Jarrod Bowen, at the time (when he was at Hull City). Can he make that step? Is he good enough to make that step? But when you have seen Bowen handle it so well, there is no reason why Clarke can’t either.”
The 23-year-old wants to leave the Stadium of Light after scoring 15 goals and setting up four more in 2023/24.
Wilfried Gnonto may look to leave Leeds United again
Willy Gnonto is facing an uncertain future himself at Leeds United. Following a summer of heavy speculation back in 2023, the Italy international is again in limbo.
Leeds are attempting to re-open contract talks with the 20-year-old speedster. HITC have also been told that Daniel Farke’s side will not sell Gnonto below their valuation, having demanded £30 million around 12 months ago when Everton saw a series of offers rejected, per BBC Sport.
After losing to Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, Gnonto will have no choice but to leave Elland Road if he wants to play Premier League football in 2023/24. A desire to force his way back into the Italy squad – he was left out of Luciano Spalletti’s Euro roster – may also count against Leeds’ hopes of retaining the one-time Inter Milan prospect.
Gnonto, unlike Clarke, has already proven himself capable of making game-changing contributions in the top-flight. He was Leeds’ brightest spark during their relegation campaign in 2022/23, earning the admiration of Gary Neville after one particularly impressive display against Aston Villa.
“To see someone so mature, so young is very unusual in that position,” Neville said on Sky Sports after Gnonto ran Villa ragged from the left wing.
‘Sometimes you see potential and talent. But watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates…
“Really good honestly.”
