Transfer Centre

Crystal Palace interested in Ruben Vargas, Crysencio Summerville?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 26 July 2023

Crystal Palace interested in Vargas, Summerville?

Crystal Palace are reportedly keeping tabs on Ruben Vargas and Crysencio Summerville after Wilfried Zaha's exit from Selhurst Park this summer.

Crystal Palace have reportedly targeted Ruben Vargas and Crysencio Summerville to replace Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park.

Zaha's contract expired with the Eagles at the end of June, and despite the club holding out hope that he would re-sign, the Ivorian joined Galatasaray earlier this week.

The club have also been linked with Everton's Demarai Gray since Zaha's departure, as well as Matheus Franca from Flamengo.

Mike McGrath from The Telegraph now claims that Palace are keeping tabs on Vargas and Summerville, two more players capable of playing in wide areas.

Summerville showed promising signs as he broke into the Leeds United side last season, with a late winner at Anfield proving to be the highlight of his campaign.

The Dutchman has also become a regular for the Under-21 side at international level after scoring four and assisting a further two in the Premier League last season.

That was not enough to save Leeds from relegation though, and Summerville could be one of the next to leave Elland Road after the mass exodus already which has seen eight first-team players depart.

Many of those have left to join top-flight clubs across Europe on loan, but Leeds are yet to decide whether Summerville will be loaned out or sold permanently.

Palace's interest in Vargas though is believed to be on a loan deal, with his parent club Augsburg willing to let him leave after signing Masaya Okugawa from Arminia Bielefeld earlier this month.

Vargas is a current Switzerland international and represented his country at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

The 24-year-old scored in their famous last-16 shootout win over France, but then unfortunately missed when their quarter-final with Spain also went the distance.

Vargas battled with injury last season and featured just 23 times in the Bundesliga - many of which were off the bench - but still contributed to seven goals as Augsburg survived relegation by one point.

These links also come amid news that Michael Olise is attracting interest from Chelsea.

After Zaha's departure, Roy Hodgson will hope that another of the club's key attacking outlets is not lured elsewhere with the season just over two weeks away.

Olise recorded 11 assists for Palace in the league last season, and also showcased his dead-ball ability with a stoppage-time equaliser against Manchester United direct from a free kick back in January.