Bellingham, Rigg, Dibling: Crystal Palace ‘to sign Championship stars’
Crystal Palace are plotting deals to sign Tyler Dibling, Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg to bolster Oliver Glasner’s squad in the summer transfer window.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Palace have set their sights on recruiting from the second tier.
Palace have seen success in this model previously with the signings of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton and are now keen to replicate those deals.
Glaner’s side are currently 12th in the Premier League and looking to record another top-half finish, while they have also progressed into the FA Cup quarter final.
As a result, chairman Steve Parish and director of football Dougie Freedman are already believed to be putting plans in place ahead of the summer window.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider that Palace want to sign Southampton’s Dibling and are prepared to rival the likes of Tottenham, Man United and Newcastle for his signature.
Meanwhile, Sunderland could be forced to cash in on Bellingham if they are not promoted from the Championship this season amid growing interest.
Crystal Palace plot raid for three young Championship stars
Brown told Football Insider in November that Crystal Palace want to sign the best Championship talent and develop them into superstars at Selhurst Park.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that recruiting young players from the second tier remains a key part of their plan.
“There are a few players they’ve had scouts looking at,” he told Football Insider.
“What Palace will do, and they’ve got a good record of doing it, is they will be keeping a close eye on the Championship and the young players in that division.
“They have to make sure they scout these players thoroughly and from what I hear, Crystal Palace do that.
“These players like the couple of Sunderland lads, Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham and people like him are on their radar – and the lad from Southampton, Dibling.
“It’s a big part of their plan and they’ve had success with it before.
“You look at what they’ve done with players like Eze, Guehi, Olise.
“It’s a tried and tested method for them and as long as they keep putting in the work off the field to identify these players, it should continue to pay off.
“So I expect in the summer those three are players they’ll be looking at, and there will probably be more as well who haven’t been mentioned yet.”
John Textor takeover update emerges at Selhurst Park
Amid speculation about possible transfers, there is the ongoing backdrop of a potential takeover at Selhurst Park as John Textor is keen to sell his shares in the club.
The Athletic reported on 6 January a group backed by individuals from the US and Saudi Arabia has signed an exclusivity agreement to buy Textor’s stake in the club, but there has since been no update provided.
Now, former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson has told Football Insider that Palace’s takeover could be delayed as their current owners will be given a deadline to match the bid.
The deal is considered a complicated one, and Eagles fans have been urged to remain patient as rumours surrounding Textor’s Eagle Football remain questionable.
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