Crystal Palace signed former Cardiff City midfielder Victor Camarasa from Real Betis on a season-long loan with an option to buy for £15m at the end of the 2019-20 season.
But the 25-year-old has seen just five minutes of Premier League action since the start of the season and he has failed to make Roy Hodgson’s first-team squad on a regular basis.
Currently paying his wages, the Eagles must be open to getting his salary off the books to free up funds to spend elsewhere. With James McCarthy, James McArthur, Cheikhou Kouyaté and club captain Luka Milivojević all ahead of him in the pecking order, Camarasa’s chances of first-team action certainly appear slim.
The 25-year-old was a popular player at Cardiff City last season, scoring five goals and assisting another four in 32 Premier League games as the Bluebirds slipped to relegation. Another season away from Real Betis has followed, with a loan to Crystal Palace.
Betis signed Camarasa from Levante in 2017 but one goal in 24 games saw the creative midfielder loaned out to Cardiff. He does have almost 150 appearances to his name in the Spanish and English top-flights while also being popular among Cardiff supporters last season but has failed to nail down a spot in Hodgson’s team.
Hodgson just doesn’t seem to fancy him compared to his other options. James McCarthy, Luka Milivojevic and Cheikh Kouyate are undoubtedly the preferred trio and are perhaps more industrious than flashy.
Even Jeffrey Schlupp has started games ahead of Camarasa, who appears in a similar situation to Max Meyer. The latter also arrived amidst much acclaim last season but the German has struggled to make a meaningful impression, despite his classy moments. Palace have had similar unsuccessful loan moves in the past – a prime example being Erdal Rakip, who joined in January 2018 and didn’t feature at all.
With a lot of players ahead of him in the pecking order, it would be well advised for Crystal Palace to get rid of Victor Camarasa.