Crystal Palace’s forte in recruitment over recent years has been plucking the best players out of the Championship, now they’ll try again.
Over the past five years, Dougie Freedman has specialised in grabbing some of the Championships best and taking them to Selhurst Park.
He’s arguably got the past two players to transition perfectly to Premier League football, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
Adam Wharton is also now well on his way to making himself the latest name to make it at Crystal Palace, straight out of the Championship.
With this much success, we can hardly blame Freedman for wanting to continue in this manner of recruitment, and this is exactly what could be about to do.
READ MORE: Who is Dougie Freedman? The Crystal Palace Sporting Director linked with Manchester United switch
Crystal Palace targeting Gabriel Sara
So the latest Palace target from the Championship is Brazilian Gabriel Sara who has been destroying the Championship this season with 23 goals and assists.
He’s been linked with the move to Palace by GiveMeSport who suggest that the 24-year-old is being scouted by the Eagles with a £30m move being touted.
Palace have joined Bournemouth, Wolves and Nottingham Forest in having their scouts mull over the performances of the talent.
The report also suggests that the chances of the deal happening will multiply, should Norwich fail to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Currently, the Canaries sit sixth on 72 points with two games to play, with Hull City six points behind however have a game in hand.
This would stick them into the playoffs, but in the playoffs, it’s likely, that one of Leeds, Leicester or Ipswich will simply have too much for them.
If Palace were to make the move, he’d enter the list of most expensive signings of all time for the club.
- READ MORE: How much Crystal Palace paid to sign every 2023/24 first-team squad player in the transfer market
What would Gabriel Sara bring to Selhurst Park?
For Palace, the move for Sara would be a significant change in the midfield as he’s so impactful despite playing in a deep position, although he’s equally as good further forward or on the right.
With 12 goals and 11 assists for Norwich this season in 44 games, he’s been the deciding factor in their playoff run.
Here are the rest of his stats this season.
| Statistic | |
| Match rating | 7.63 |
| Passes comp | 2,154(85.7%) |
| Long passes comp | 162 (62.1%) |
| Chances created | 110 |
| Crosses comp | 85 (34.7%) |
| Dribbles comp | 36 |
| Touches in oppo box | 59 |
| Tackles won | 51 |
| Duels won | 206 |
| Interceptions | 31 |
| Blocked | 29 |
| Recoveries | 214 |
| Possession won in final third | 15 |
In all of these stats, Sara is near to or is the best in the league among his positional peers which is an excellent feat.
He’d be a special signing if all was to be successful as he’s possibly the most talented player in the division who seems to have it all.
