‘Eze’s Palace future set to be decided by major UEFA row amid Spurs interest’
Eberechi Eze’s future at Crystal Palace will be decided by whether the Eagles are allowed to compete in next season’s Europa League.
The England international was the goal-scoring hero when Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final on 17 May.
Eze’s exploits handed the South London club their first-ever major trophy, while an FA Cup triumph provides Oliver Glasner’s men a spot in the Europa League.
However, Crystal Palace may be banned from competing in Europe next season, courtesy of UEFA’s rules regarding multi-club ownership.
The Eagles’ minority shareholder, John Textor, owns French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, who have qualified for the Europa League alongside the Selhurst Park side.
Eze will leave Crystal Palace if they don’t compete in the Europa League
The England star has enjoyed a stellar campaign, notching 14 goals and 12 assists across all competitions for Glasner’s side.
Eze’s impressive performances demonstrate that he deserves to be playing European football next term, while competing in either the Champions League or Europa League will significantly enhance his chances of playing for the Three Lions in next summer’s World Cup.
London rivals Tottenham want to sign Eze, while Spurs have booked their place in next season’s Champions League, thanks to their 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
If Palace are barred from Europe, the 26-year-old could be eager to join Spurs, who continue to close in on the appointment of Thomas Frank.
Crystal Palace could struggle to adjust if they lose Eze
The South London club will rightly feel hard done by if they are denied a place in next season’s Europa League despite their historic FA Cup triumph.
| Eberechi Eze stats | All competitions 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 43 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 12 |
But the worst could be yet to come if Eze leaves Selhurst Park amid interest from Champions League outfit Tottenham, who could allow the attacking midfielder to flourish and further fulfil his potential.
Crystal Palace have proven their ability to deal with high-profile exits in recent years, which is epitomised by the fact that they managed to win the FA Cup less than a year after Michael Olise left in favour of a move to Bayern Munich.
Olise played a key role as Vincent Kompany’s men knocked Bayer Leverkusen off their perch and lifted their 34th German top-flight title.
But Glasner’s men coped well without his services, landing a comfortable 12th-place finish in the Premier League while claiming FA Cup glory.
However, losing Eze could prove one step too far for the South Londoners, who have been highly reliant on his attacking returns.