Back in September of last year, following the closure of the transfer window, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish held a very open and honest interview, reflecting on a number of aspects of the club’s summer business.
Palace had warded off interest from Newcastle United in England international Marc Guehi, but had sold Joachim Andersen to Fulham and Michael Olise to Bayern Munich. They had signed Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal, brought Ismaila Sarr back to England and loaned Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea.
To the surprise of many, not least of all Parish himself it would have appeared, Eberechi Eze stayed put. The highly talented playmaker had joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020 and has since been a regular in the Premier League, breaking into the England fold too in more recent times.
This year is looking to be the player’s most productive season at Selhurst Park to date, having hit double figures for goals and assists as Palace have reached the FA Cup final under Oliver Glasner – at the expense of Aston Villa, of course, who Eze scored against in the semi-final and who, reportedly, retain an interest in Eze.
In that aforementioned interview, Parish outlined his sheer surprise that he still had Eze on his books following the summer deadline – but, simultaneously, he admitted that Eze ought not to be restricted in the long-term in order to achieve his career goals and play at the highest level he can.
“I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael and Ebbs in the same window and we didn’t have in Ebbs the interest that I thought we would have,” Parish told Sky Sports News.
“I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy’s just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He’s a gift to any football club. I don’t think any Crystal Palace supporter would mind the fact that Ebbs would want to play at the highest level. He’s playing regularly for England.
“It was great for the club we didn’t lose him, but we understand that, in time, maybe somebody will come in. I’ve been his biggest fan. Ebbs is still here and it’s great for the football club, but I was surprised that that’s what happened.”
We are nearing the opening of the 2025 summer transfer window and, while Villa will be by no means the only side who would be keen to recruit Eze were an opportunity to present itself – it’s been claimed that the 26-year-old has a £68m release clause – the lack of significant interest last summer is highly unlikely to be a scenario which repeats itself.
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