Crystal Palace are closing in on the £20m signing of Lyon centre back Joachim Andersen, who will make his return to the Premier League after suffering relegation with Fulham last season.
Despite the Cottagers slipping to a second relegation in three seasons from the top flight, their 25-year-old defender was a standout performer in the backline. His resolute displays caught the attention of the Eagles, who have launched a bid for the Danish centre back.
And the Daily Mail reports that Andersen is close to completing a £20m move to Palace as they continue to rebuild their squad amid a summer of upheaval.
The Eagles released ten senior players over the summer and hired Patrick Vieira to replace Roy Hodgson in the dugout, with the club undergoing a major revolution on the pitch.
The arrival of Andersen would add some experience to the backline, which has lost the presence of Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt, Scott Dann and Mamadou Sakho over the summer.
Palace have actively targeted younger players in the window, having already confirmed the signings of Chelsea starlet Marc Guehi and Reading teenager Michael Olise, and they are also in talks to bring another former Premier League loanee back to the English top flight.
Schalke defender Ozan Kabak spent the second half of last season on loan at Liverpool, but the Reds decided not to make that move permanent in the summer. The 21-year-old is looking for a way out of Schalke after the German giants suffered an embarrassing relegation to the second tier.
Palace would be willing to offer him an escape route back to the Premier League and would be required to pay around £10m. That deal could see him partner up at the back with Andersen as Palace begin a new era under coach Vieira.
The Denmark international caught the eye during his time with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur even expressed an interest in the centre back, although a move to north London never materialised.
Source: 90min
