Crystal Palace could turn their striker searchlight onto Genoa’s teenage front man Jeff Ekhator if they fail to secure a deal for Angers star Sadiki Cherif, who is attracting interest from rival suitors, a recent report has revealed.
Palace face an ever increasing possibility of losing their first choice striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this January. Emerging reports claim that the French striker is keen on a change of scenery, prompting the Eagles to commence a search for suitable replacements.
The ongoing search has seen Crystal Palace register an interest in Cherif, who has enjoyed a decent campaign for Angers in Ligue 1 where he has bagged four goals in 18 appearances so far.
However, the Eagles face stiff competition from Wrexham, with the EFL Championship giants reportedly ready to part ways with as much as £19 million to lure the 19-year-old Guinean striker to the Racecourse Ground.
The allure of more regular game time could sway Cherif towards the second division side, meaning Crystal Palace may have to look elsewhere for a replacement for the wantaway Mateta and leading them to one of Serie A’s fast rising talents.
Ekhator, also 19 years old, is a product of Genoa’s youth system. The Italy U-21 international has displayed huge potential in his budding career and those around him believe he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.
So far this season, Ekhator has registered 19 Serie A appearances for Genoa. The teenage hitman has scored thrice in that time, recording a noticeable improvement on his tally of just one in 25 appearances last term.
Genoa are said to be willing to sanction a departure for their young striker if the price is right. Ben Jacobs reveals that the Serie A club are seeking a fee in the region of €18 million to cut ties with the 19-year-old Italian.
More options may emerge for Crystal Palace in the coming days, but they are currently in a race against time with the February 2 deadline fast approaching. It will be interesting to see how this particular story unfolds.
