Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald is seemingly on the brink of securing a move to Crystal Palace.
Frank de Boer is poised to make the Dutchman his second signing of the summer, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s loan move from Chelsea being the first man through the door in the new boss’ reign.
Riedewald is looking set to pen a deal with Palace in the near future, with an £8m deal between the two clubs set to be struck.
De Boer will know Riedewald from his days in the Eredivisie and will be keen to see what his trusted defender can do in the Premier League.
So, just what will the 20-year-old bring to Palace? I’ve taken a look at five positive aspects of Riedewald’s likely arrival in South London.
Versatility
A key quality that Riedewald possesses is his versatility. He’s able to play in a number of different positions and this can only be beneficial for Palace, and De Boer if he wishes to be flexible in his systems.
Riedewald is primarily a central defender, but can also play on the left hand side of defence. Along with this, he’s a capable defensive midfielder.
Experience
Although he is just 20, Riedewald possesses a large amount of experience. He’s been a key player for Ajax for many years now and has experienced a lot of European football. He has big-game know-how and is sure to provide an air of confidence.
Knowledge
As aforementioned, he knows De Boer. He knows how his compatriot wants to play, and will slot into his plans with consummate ease.
If the Palace boss opts for tactical flexibility and wants to change the structure of his team on a regular basis, Riedewald will be able to cope with the alterations and perform effectively in the system.
Value
The transfer window has been out of control, and ridiculous money is being splashed about. So, for Palace to be landing Riedewald for a fee as low as £8m is a brilliant bit of business.
He’s 20-years-old, has a lot of potential and is relatively proven in European football. It’s a good signing, based on value for money.
Variety
Riedewald will bring something different. Palace’s current crop of centre-backs are more physically-based and are good in the air, but he is a player who likes the ball at his feet.
He’ll be confident in bringing the ball out from the defence and carrying his team forward into different phases of build-up. This is crucial in De Boer’s philosophy, and this is just another reason why Riedewald is an intelligent signing.