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Oliver Walton
Mon 18 August 2025 18:06, UK
Crystal Palace have suffered another setback in the summer transfer window with one of their key targets now highly unlikely to join the club following a new development.
Crystal Palace‘s recent on-field success has been somewhat overshadowed by events off it, with numerous key players linked with moves away from Selhurst Park this summer and uncertainty around Oliver Glasner’s future in charge.
Glasner recently admitted that he has not held talks to extend his Eagles contract beyond the end of the season and suggested that he and Marc Guehi have the “same fate” in terms of being set to leave when their deals expire next summer.
Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the window, and Palace look set to lose their talisman with the new season already underway as Eberechi Eze edges closer to joining Tottenham.
The England international playmaker is set to be a huge loss to the Eagles as they aim for more success in domestic and European competition this term, and their search for a replacement has now suffered a massive blow.
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According to a report from The Athletic on Sunday, 17 August, Palace had approached Club Brugge over a potential move to sign Christos Tzolis as a replacement for Eze, with the Eagles planning to return with an improved bid and speaking to the Greece attacker’s representatives after having their first offer rejected.
The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath (18 August) claimed that Palace’s initial bid was worth €30million (£25.9m), but a new reveal has seemingly ended any of their hopes of signing him in place of Spurs-bound Eze this summer.
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Journalist Sacha Tavolieri, via X (18 August) has reported that Brugge consider Tzolis to be “100% non-transferable,” and that “no matter the offer” that Palace make to sign him, the Belgian side have no intention of discussing a transfer and are rejecting all negotiation attempts from the Eagles.
That will serve as a big setback to Glasner and Palace, who need a replacement for Eze in as soon as possible with Fabrizio Romano reporting via X (18 August) that Daniel Levy and Steve Parish are now in “direct contact” over a deal for him join Spurs, with him wanting to move to North London.
Tzolis has experience of playing in England after an ill-fated spell at Norwich City between 2021 and 2024, but he has proved his worth at Brugge over the last year with 21 goals and 16 assists in 56 appearances in all competitions at just 23-years-old.
He was in the 92nd percentile for key passes per game in the Champions League last term, with 2.61 [FBref], and would likely have been a great replacement for Eze, yet any move now looks completely dead in the water after Brugge’s stance was revealed.
With Eze seemingly set to move on before Palace take on Frederikstad in Conference League qualifying on Thursday (21 August), they need to get a move on in terms of signing a player to replace him in their starting eleven.
Tzolis could have been that man, but now his move will surely not happen, and the Eagles instead need to ramp up their pursuit of Leicester City playmaker El Khannouss amid ongoing rumours about their interest in his services.
AppearancesGoalsAssists3937El Khannouss’ Leicester career stats
Football Insider revealed on Saturday (16 August) that Palace are plotting a move to sign El Khannouss before the window closes, and he now seems set to be made their priority target to come in for Eze in attacking midfield.
Leeds and Newcastle are both also in for El Khannouss, so he is clearly highly-rated across England despite notching just two goals and three assists in the Premier League last term, and the Eagles now need to make a genuine approach for his signature as soon as possible.
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