Crystal Palace open talks to sign £40m Wolves star who could be the next Eze

Just a handful of years ago, no Crystal Palace fan would have believed that their club would be the reigning FA Cup winners whilst also being in a European semi-final.

However, that’s the reality for Oliver Glasner’s side in 2025/26, as the Eagles once again have the chance to end this season with a trophy come the end of May.

Club-record addition Jorgen Strand Larsen will no doubt have a huge role to play in the weeks ahead, after joining the club for a reported £45m from Wolves during the January window.

The Norwegian netted three goals in his first seven games after his switch to Selhurst Park, but has now gone as many games without finding the back of the net.

There’s no denying the 26-year-old has plenty of time to resurrect his career in South London, with the potential arrival of one player this summer aiding the talisman’s chances of success.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign £40m star this summer

Over the last few weeks, Palace have been linked with a whole host of talents to try and mount a pushback up the Premier League table during the 2026/27 campaign.

The hierarchy have often dipped into the Championship for promising talents and could do so once again this window with a move for Millwall star Femi Azeez.

The 24-year-old has registered 16 combined goals and assists in England’s second tier this term, leading to the possibility of a summer switch to Selhurst Park.

However, the Englishman isn’t the only player who could arrive from a second tier outfit this summer, with newly relegated Wolves star Joao Gomes another option for the Eagles.

According to the BBC, Palace have already reached out to the player’s representatives and held talks over the possibility of a deal to join the club when the window opens.

The report states that the Brazilian midfielder is looking to leave Molineux after suffering relegation, with the player himself wanting to stay in the Premier League.

A fee of £40m would be required to secure the 25-year-old’s signature this summer, with Atletico Madrid, another side said to be keen on landing his services.

Why Gomes would be Palace’s next Eberechi Eze

Striking gold on Championship stars hasn’t been alien to Palace in recent years, as seen with the £15m deal to land Eberechi Eze from QPR in the summer of 2020.

The Englishman arrived as an unknown quantity to many supporters, but quickly captured their hearts as a result of his impressive displays at Selhurst Park.

He racked up a total of 40 goals and 29 assists in his 169 appearances for the Eagles, often being the star man and stepping up in the final third when the side needed him most.

Such a situation was evident in the FA Cup final last season, as he burst into the penalty area and fired home to net the only goal and secure the club’s first-ever major trophy.

However, it would be one of his final contributions for the club, as he left in a £60m deal to join boyhood club Arsenal during last summer’s transfer window.

Losing Eze was a bitter blow for the club and the fanbase, but they have the opportunity to emulate such a move with a deal for Gomes upon the opening of the window.

Whilst the Brazilian has featured in England’s top-flight already, he has the quality needed to take the Eagles to the next level – just as the attacking midfielder did during his own five-year spell.

He may have suffered relegation with Rob Edwards’ side this term, but his underlying figures from the 2025/26 season demonstrate the quality he possesses.

Gomes has completed 86% of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, whilst finding a teammate with 31% of the crosses he’s made into the opposition’s area.

The aforementioned figures highlight his talent with the ball at his feet, with the Brazilian able to provide the goods to the likes of Strand Larsen in South London.

His quality in possession is further showcased by his tally of 66% dribbles completed – with the subsequent figure placing him in the top 10% of midfielders in the Premier League.

However, without the ball is where the 25-year-old has thrived in 2025/26, with the Wolves star coming out on top in 7.2 of the ground duels he’s entered to date.

Such a number is higher than 92% of players in England’s top-flight this campaign, subsequently highlighting his ability in regaining the ball back for his side.

He’s also won 3.4 tackles and made 6.4 ball recoveries per 90 this term – only reaffirming the sensational ability he has to disrupt the opposition’s progress.

Whilst he operates in a different role to Eze, the similarities between the transfers are there for all to see, with the hierarchy able to land their next big-money star this summer.

£40m would be up there with one of the Eagles’ biggest ever transfers, but it’s one that would certainly enable the side to fight for a European spot in 2026/27.

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