Sources: Crystal Palace would love £30m ace 'similar to Eden Hazard', also like £24m teammate and teen star
Today at 05:15 AM
Crystal Palace hope to use their Lyon connections to bring Ligue 1 stars Rayan Cherki, Ernest Nuamah and Sael Kumbedi to the Premier League in the New Year.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
While John Textor’s ownership of the Selhurst Park outfit remains very much uncertain – the American business wants to take over rivals Everton – Crystal Palace are keen to make use of the connections his presence in the boardroom provides while they still can.
Textor, as the majority owner and chairman of Eagle Football Holdings, is a leading shareholder in both Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais, as well as Belgian outfit RWD Molenbeek and the recently-crowned Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo.
As such, Textor could help to smooth over potentially complex negotiations between Palace and Lyon for some of the French side’s prized assets.
TBR can confirm that Ernest Nuamah, Sael Kumbedi and the in-form Rayan Cherki are three players with plenty of admirers in South London.
Crystal Palace like Lyon trio including Rayan Cherki
Cherki is, of course, the most high-profile of the three.
Viewed as a prodigious talent across the Channel ever since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old half a decade ago, Cherki finally appears to be making good on his mercurial talent.
After finally signing a new contract back in September, Cherki has belatedly forced his way into Pierre Sage’s starting XI with pretty spectacular results.
Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson even once labelled Cherki a footballer ‘similar to Eden Hazard’, in conversation with Caught Offside. Comparisons he is now starting to justify.
Lyon reportedly agreed a deal for Cherki the region of £12 million with Crystal Palace’s London neighbours Fulham over the summer. TBR understands that Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were also keen on Cherki, while Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund held discussions.
According to The Sun, Lyon will now demand closer to £30 million.
“[By failing to sell Cherki in the summer] we lost 15 million euros,” Textor told L'Equipe last month. “But he has a greater market value [after extending his contract].
“He should stay in January but it will come down to his choice, as always in football.”
Fellow winger Ernest Nuamah is another who could have ended up at Fulham.
The Ghana international only joined Lyon in a £24 million deal back in January. However, Les Gones were determined to cash in before the August deadline, leaving Nuamah in tears before he personally aborted a late switch to Craven Cottage, per L'Equipe.
Textor would later apologise to Nuamah. But, after starting only twice in Ligue 1 this term after having lost his place to Cherki, the 21-year-old may be more open to a move away these days.
Ernest Nuamah and Sael Kumbedi are also Crystal Palace targets
"Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler," Nuamah's former Nordsjaelland coach Flemming Pedersen said, via Breaking the Lines. "He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and a good agility.”
Given that both players prefer to operate on the right, it is highly unlikely that Crystal Palace would look to sign both Cherki and Nuamah. But, with a Michael Olise-shaped hole in Oliver Glasner’s frontline, either one would be welcomed with open arms.
TBR have been told that Cherki is a player Palace would love to sign. Persuading him to make the switch, however, may be easier said than done given the interest from clubs higher up the footballing food chain.
Sael Kumbedi, a 19-year-old right-back, is perhaps the least well-known of the Lyon trio. But, with Crystal Palace duo Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne now into their 30s, there is certainly space at Selhurst Park for a full-back capable of challenging Daniel Munoz.
Kumbedi was a regular in Lyon’s team over the last two seasons. But, with only two starts in 2024/25, he has found opportunities harder to come by of late.
