Crystal Palace are a frequent shopper in the Championship and could return to familiar stomping grounds in 2025.
Oliver Glasner has made it clear, that he wants reinforcements to be signed in January and has two priorities which Dougie Freedman must listen to.
Glasner has named two areas needing improvements, firstly an attacker and then also a wing-back to support Tyrick Mitchell who has no back-up in the squad.
This falls in line with the plan reported last week, which suggested the Eagles are interested in signing a creative forward.
In preparation for this, Crystal Palace have had scouts watching targets, with one in the Championship surely catching the eye.
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Crystal Palace watching Tom Watson
In a bid to improve Glasner’s attacking options in 2025, now Freedman has been looking within the Championship for the next breakout star.
Romain Esse is one name linked, but now scouts have been watching Sunderland’s Tom Watson.
This comes according to a report from TBR Football which claims that the Eagles have been watching Sunderland’s 18-year-old winger Watson and were in the Den to watch him play against Millwall.
Watson has broken into the Sunderland first team after scoring five and assisting four in five Premier League 2 games this season.
Palace are interested in the wonderkid – however, so are both Tottenham and West Ham which could make for a tricky task to secure his signature.
With scouts watching on, the teenager showed exactly why he is so highly rated.
Watson very impressive in front of Crystal Palace scouts
Palace scouts had a few reasons to show interest in Millwall vs Sunderland. Firstly scouts will have watched Esse create three chances for the home side. Meanwhile, Chris Rigg is also a target for the Eagles.
However, the man who presumably caught their eye was the “phenomenal” Watson as the 18-year-old made just his second start as a first-team footballer.
In his first 90-minute display, it was his dribbling which stood out as he terrorised the Millwall defence, completing three dribbles.
Such direct dribbling and threat on the ball would make him a perfect option to sign as a winger – although he would be one for the future and probably needs more evidence of his quality in the Championship.
This will probably leave scouts very impressed and we would not be shocked to see a future move made.
