Fans of Crystal Palace have certainly come to expect the unexpected over recent seasons, but one startling surprise was the emergence of Norwegian striking outcast Alexander Sorloth as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers.
After managing just one goal throughout his Crystal Palace career – in the Carabao Cup – the £8.1 million signing from FC Midtjylland seemed destined to fail to live up to the potential that the Palace hierarchy thought they were buying into.
Eagles fans would be right to have initially viewed the loan of Sorloth to Turkish giants Trabzonspor as the final nail in a very Palace-shaped coffin. A path ahead was clear: he would see out two years in Turkey before Trabzonspor would activate an option-to-buy at a fee below that of which Palace had initially paid for him.
Fast-forward to August 2020 and the disruption to this potentially innocuous career path that seemingly lay ahead could not be clearer. 39 appearances, 24 goals, 9 assists and a Turkish Cup later and the 6’4 Norwegian giant is instead being linked to a giant club to match – in the shape of Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig.
With a buyout clause seemingly set to automatically activate, fans will be left wondering how the Palace hierarchy did not adequately equip themselves in contract negotiations to protect against an unforeseen breakout of outstanding form.
With Palace potentially losing the striker at a loss and with him looking like he will be sold on by Trabzonspor, an element of frustration from fans was warranted – until now.
Interesting claims by International Sport Press Association journalist Chris Williams (collated by @cpfc_xtra via Twitter) seem to disrupt the basis of Palace fans’ fears. The superficial oversights by the board, if Williams is to be believed, are based on a lack of outside knowledge of the details of the striker’s contract – not simply a lack of foresight from the Palace board.
Twitter: 🚨 SØRLOTH SITUATION LATEST 🚨
[@Chris78Williams] #CPFC https://t.co/zydzLO7z9b (@cpfc_xtra)
The quotes by the reputable journalist would unquestionably alter the power balance between Trabzonspor, Crystal Palace and the club himself.
Under these conditions, Sorloth could simply cancel the second year of his loan spell and return to Crystal Palace, with the parent club then reaping the rewards of his sale.
In terms of a fee, the fee from a potential suitor would be a far greater and profitable fee than the paltry buyout clause sum they were previously perceived as being likely to receive.
Further comments indicate the complexity of the deal:
‘The fee to cancel is unknown and no one wants to say exactly how much it is, it is described as hefty, so take a guess. The Turkish press reports something entirely different, that he can be bought now for £5.5m, that is answered as untrue so far here.’
‘[The agitation of a move] was reported in Norway and Turkey but no official clarification from either Sørloth, Palace or [Trabzonspor]. Which is why I said he must be confident to get his move despite the complications and differing reports from the U.K. and Turkey.’
It appears this could be a messy transfer saga, but one that is showing promise in Crystal Palace’s favour.
