Player Crystal Palace lost for £847,000 might now end up replacing £80 million Premier League great.

Player Crystal Palace lost for £847,000 might now end up replacing £80 million Premier League great.

A guy sold by Crystal Palace for peanuts may now be faced with replacing one of the Premier League’s most brilliant players.

Dougie Freedman has proven himself to be an excellent recruiter in his capacity as Director of Football at Selhurst Park, yet Crystal Palace still has to work on moving marginal players at the right moment for the highest potential sum.

So, which former Crystal Palace player could be returning to the Premier League? Let us have a look.

Jake O’Brien could replace Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton

Crystal Palace approved Jake O’Brien’s £846,525 transfer to John Textor’s Lyon in August 2023, despite the Irish defender’s route to regular play in south London being obstructed by Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, and Chris Richards.

Since then, the Republic of Ireland international has become a star in France, scoring four goals and adding two assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances to help Lyon finish sixth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

According to HITC Football, Lyon are interested in signing Ben Godfrey from Everton and would be willing to trade O’Brien to the Toffees as part of the deal, with Goodison Park officials interested in the Crystal Palace academy graduate.

It comes amid Manchester United’s interest in Everton No.32 Jarrad Branthwaite, for whom the Toffees are requesting £80 million this summer.

If Lyon can outbid Atalanta for Godfrey, O’Brien may end up replacing the England international.

Crystal Palace could still benefit

While it would be disappointing to see a player we sold for £846,525 shine in defence for Everton rather than us, Freedman did manage to secure a sell-on clause when transferring O’Brien to Lyon.

According to London News Online, Lyon’s clause was worth 15% of any cash received for the 23-year-old, so if Everton does get the guy from Cork, it will be for a large transfer fee.

READ MORE: 22-year-old Roy Hodgson termed “very talented” also swaps Crystal Palace for Germany after Michael Olise move

Keep an eye on this issue, since any money collected from O’Brien could give Freedman more wiggle room in the market, as it would be considered 100% profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

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