29th Jun 2025 • Written by The Palace Way

Crystal Palace Rumour Review: Latest on Guehi, Eze, Europe

Crystal Palace Rumour Review: Latest on Guehi, Eze, Europe

Last updated at 09:05.

There's too much noise out there to stay up to date on Crystal Palace - so we've put it all in one place, compiled with our editor's honest thoughts on each story.

"Crystal Palace are ready to throw Ben Doak into a swap deal for Marc Guehi"

Source: Alan Nixon

Liverpool might be ready to do that - but Palace wouldn't consider it.

Palace want a significant standalone fee for Guehi, ensuring they make a healthy profit after Chelsea's 20% sell-on clause. This would likely exceed £40m.

With regards to Doak, Palace's recruitment strategy is based firmly around value for money - and to put it simply, there are better players than Doak available at a cheaper price. He is liked at Selhurst Park, but the discount Liverpool would want for his inclusion would make the deal a non-starter.

When's the last time we (or anyone) did a swap deal?

"Leyton Orient want Hindolo Mustapha on loan"

Source: Alan Nixon

It would be an excellent loan for Mustapha. Richie Wellens' Orient will be competing at the top of League One, and are in need of an attacking midfielder after Spurs' Jamie Donley returned to his parent club this summer.

Mustapha has proven himself in the PL2, and has the significant advantage of being physically dominant despite his young age. The opportunity to start regularly as the creative focal point in a top London-based League One side is one that many of his academy predecessors would have dreamed of.

Some fans may question sending Mustapha to League One after interest from Portsmouth, but the argument in its favour is relatively simple: game time is the most crucial aspect of any loan, and at this stage in his development, Mustapha needs assured game time. There have been multiple recent examples of outgoing loanees playing minimally, and it's a situation Palace are keen to avoid with one of their best talents.

"Palace are interested in Igor Julio"

Source: El Diario Vasco

No. No they are not.

"Arsenal could rival Tottenham in pursuit of Eberechi Eze"

Source: The Mirror

Arsenal are looking for a left-winger. Eze is not a left-winger. End of conversation.

As for Spurs, there is long-term interest in Eze, who is more keen on The Lilywhites than their North London counterparts. However, Daniel Levy would have to trigger Eze's £68m release clause, and convince him that the project at Tottenham next year is preferable to a season in Europe with Palace.

Palace are also unwilling to negotiate any alternative deal structures beyond what is outlined in the release clause.

Despite an exit being unlikely, there is an argument it could be a net positive for Palace in the long run.

There has never been a more critical moment for the Eagles to invest and push on - and a significant sale could help them ensure that after having broken their glass (and silver) ceiling, they won't fall back through it again.

"Palace are eyeing a move for Bologna star Dan Ndoye"

Source: Fabrizio Romano

Ndoye is an exciting and pacy player, who very much fits the Oliver Glasner mold. Not dissimilar to Antonio Nusa, who Palace were close to signing last year - and retain interest in.

However, I've not heard anything about Ndoye coming to South London. Doesn't mean it's not true!

"UEFA's decision over Crystal Palace's Europa League clearance will be made on Monday"

Source: Ed Aarons

Palace are all but guaranteed to play in either the Europa League or the Conference League. The decision of which is set to be made on Monday, provided there are no further delays.

The South London club have multiple legal arguments in their favour, in addition to the emotional story of their qualification. However, delays to the final decision been to Palace's detriment, limiting their action in the transfer market.

Blame for these delays predominantly lies at the door of John Textor, rather than UEFA. The American billionaire's inability to agree a sale early in the year, in part due to his wild goose chase for Harris & Blitzer's share in the club, is a significant contributing factor to the mess Palace find themselves in.

More notoriously, Textor signed two exclusivity agreements with two different parties in January for the sale of his role at Palace - something as illogical as it was entirely futile, given that the eventual share purchase agreement for Eagle Football Holdings' stake in Palace was signed by neither party, and for a lower price than the offers in January.

Furthermore, severe financial mismanagement at Olympique Lyonnais, resulting in their relegation for Ligue 1 and potentially the Europa League, could make the last month of evidence and deliberation redundant.

Despite a seemingly-confident statement made on Friday, Lyon are in trouble with regards to their European ambitions for next season, with their hopes resting on a favourable outcome of their appeal with the French league.

Palace will hope they don't need to rely on that decision to play in the Europa League next season, which has a prize pot double the size of the Conference League.

This was far longer than I had planned it to be. Anyone else feeling nervous?

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