Sources: Club Brugge advance in talks to sign Crystal Palace star Romain Esse

Club Brugge are advancing in talks with Crystal Palace as they aim to agree a deal for Romain Esse, sources have told Football Insider.

The 21-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Selhurst Park since his £12million move from Millwall, and the door has now been opened for his permanent departure.

Esse had attracted interest from a number of Championship clubs this summer, but Club Brugge are moving quickly to deter any rivals and get a deal over the line.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Coventry City, where he made 18 appearances and helped Frank Lampard's side to win the title.

The winger, who is capable of playing on both flanks, is still highly regarded at Crystal Palace despite the decision to cash in, and any deal will likely include a sell-on fee.

Esse's contract at Selhurst Park is set to run until 2030, in what was a show of the club's belief in his progress, but he is now expected to secure a move away.

Why are Crystal Palace open to selling Romain Esse?

Football Insider revealed that Crystal Palace rate Esse very highly as they pushed to land his signature ahead of some Premier League rivals back in January 2025.

However, the downturn in his fortunes came later that year under Oliver Glasner, as the boss withdrew the winger having brought him on earlier in the end-of-season clash against Liverpool.

Despite having changed managers since then, the incident clearly impacted Esse's time at Palace, and he has now struggled to impress Pierre Sage in pre-season.

As a result, the Eagles are prepred to part ways with the winger, placing a number of clubs on alert with Club Brugge now the clear front-runners to agree a deal.

There is optimism that a full agreement will be reached before the season begins, while the player is open to the move and is keen to kickstart his career in Belgium.

What could Esse's sale mean for Crystal Palace's transfer plans?

Esse's imminent sale comes as Crystal Palace look to cash in on a number of young players and fringe players who are unlikely to feature under Sage's management.

The Eagles have already cashed in on Danny Imray, who completed a £5million move to Wrexham, and Esse could be the next to follow him out of the exit door.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Palace are using the sales of fringe players to raise funds for reinvestment into their sqaud.

Sage is overseeing the departures and making decisions about which players whill have a role to play in the coming season before deals are argeed.

Those sales will also allow the Eagles to keep hold of their better players including the likes of Adam Wharton, after placing them in a more stable financial position.