Why Crystal Palace must plot a summer swoop for QPR’s Ebere Eze

According to the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace had expressed an interest in signing Ebere Eze from Queens Park Rangers but a deal didn’t materialise.

Ebere Eze, 21, has been impressive during a breakthrough 2019/20 campaign with Queens Park Rangers. He has been one of the London club’s standout performers this season under Mark Warburton, scoring 10 times and providing 6 assists. The attacker has made his Young Lions debut too.

The 21-year-old’s dazzling form caught the eye of Crystal Palace, who enquired about the QPR star after seemingly missing out on Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen. QPR were only willing to sell Eze as per their terms and Crystal Palace’s valuation was someway short, so a deal was never close to fruition, the report adds.

The Eagles have completed the signings of two players this month – Cenk Tosun on loan from Everton and Scott Banks from Dundee United. Tosun, who struggled to live up to the lofty expectations at Everton since joining from Besiktas in January 2018, is now out with a hamstring problem and it remains to be seen when he recovers from it.

Roy Hodgson’s side have once again struggled for goals. They have only managed just 22 goals in 25 games and those numbers are simply not good enough. In fact, Palace’s tally of 10 goals at home is the lowest in the division.

Wilfried Zaha hasn’t hit top form for the south Londoners, with the Ivorian managing three goals and two assists. Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke have endured injury-hit campaigns, while Max Meyer is yet to justify Palace’s decision to sign him in 2018.

The Eagles’ problems in creating opportunities and scoring goals have been well documented this season. Keeping that in mind, Hodgson should make an attempt to sign Ebere Eze in the summer.

Read More

• Why Crystal Palace should go for West Brom’s Nathan Ferguson
• Why Crystal Palace must keep hold of Patrick van Aanholt
• Why Crystal Palace should make a move for Hull’s Jarrod Bowen

Eze has performed well for QPR this season. He has bagged 10 goals and six assists and there seems to be no stopping him. The 21-year-old is a quality player, who is creating chances, making assists and scoring goals in England’s second-tier and that is everything a forward needs to possess in his locker.

Verdict

While a move for Eze never looked like happening in January, Palace must continue keeping tabs on his progress. The Eagles cannot afford to let a sublime talent slip away from their hands and must do everything possible to sign him before the start of 2020/21 season.