Crystal Palace identify multiple potential Eberechi Eze replacements amid Bilal El Khannouss interest

Eagles have begun life without Eberechi Eze

Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace have identified multiple potential replacements to Eberechi Eze , including some who do not share his weaknesses.

Palace drew 1-1 at home to Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on Sunday in their first match since Eze made his £67.5million move to Arsenal.

The Eagles are attempting to replace Eze with a player of similar profile but have struggled in the transfer market so far this summer.

They hold an interest in Leicester City attacker Bilal El Khannouss as well as Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis .

Glasner says Palace’s challenge now is in tempting targets to “come to South London”.

Speaking in his press conference after the draw with Forest, the Austrian said: “I won’t talk about the players we need; it makes it more expensive. We want to be competitive in the Premier League , European football and cup competitions — and when you lose one of your top stars, it is pretty clear you have to replace him.

“That is what we are looking for and I’m pretty sure we will get it done because we have already found the right one.”

He added: “Ismaila [Sarr] had a fantastic season for us and the way he is playing helps us a lot. His directness and runs are his strengths. But if I ask him to always dribble in midfield and drop in, maybe he loses his strengths. This is what Eberechi gave us.

Ismaila Sarr scored for Crystal Palace against Nottingham Forest

REUTERS

“Sometimes you need someone who can dribble past everyone and score a great goal. This is what Ebs gave us. If you want to progress, you need this kind of player.

“This is what we are looking for. But [what we want] is also maybe what Eberechi did not give to the team. Ebs has a lot of strengths but also maybe a few weaknesses.”

Glasner continued: “Maybe we will find a player who is a little bit better where Ebs has his weaknesses and maybe therefore not that good where he has his big strengths but showing that kind of profile. This player we have to find. We already found a few of them, and it’s now just getting them to South London.”