Crystal Palace have a busy summer ahead, and one of their potential transfer targets just scored a contender for goal of the season.
The race is on for Cameroonian midfielder Arthur Avom, who is catching the eye in France. He is proving to be one of Europe’s most highly-rated young midfielders and could be on the move this summer.
Avom has several Premier League clubs reportedly eyeing him, including Palace. He might be one to watch as the months progress and Steve Parish prepares to get his chequebook out.
CaughtOffside’s Ekrem Konur reports that Avom is attracting interest from England and France. Palace are tracking him along with Leeds United and Everton.
Ligue 1 clubs Strasbourg and Rennes are also keeping tabs and “could offer him more minutes”. He will have a year left on his contract in June, which puts Lorient under pressure to cash in.
Palace’s interest might stem from uncertainty over Adam Wharton’s future. Speculation continues to grow over the English youngster making a big-money move to one of Europe’s heavyweights.
Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid are all expected to be in the race for Wharton. If he were to be sold, it’s vital that Parish signs a suitable replacement, especially with a new manager taking over from Oliver Glasner.
Palace seems to be preparing for his potential departure by drawing up a list of midfield options. Avom fits the bill, given his age and profile.
| Arthur Avom (Ligue 1 – 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 22 |
| Goals: | 1 |
| Assists: | 1 |
| Interceptions: | 1.0 |
| Tackles per game: | 2.0 |
| Balls recovered per game: | 4.0 |
| Successful dribbles: | 0.9 (58%) |
| Ground duels won: | 4.2 (59%) |
| Aerial duels won: | 0.4 (38%) |
Avom’s astonishing strike
Avom made headlines on Sunday (March 8th) when he scored a wonderstrike in Lorient’s 1-1 draw against LOSC Lille. He rescued a point for the visitors in the 90+3rd minute at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
The ball fell to the Cameroonian from about 30 yards out, and he hit a sensational half volley to nick a point. This was his first goal in Ligue 1 this season and proved to be an important one.
Watch Akpom’s scorcher below:
Avom’s goal has gone viral, with SunSport pointing out he was previously on Chelsea’s wishlist. A fan even tipped his thunderbolt to be a ‘real Puskas contender’.
The 12-cap Cameroon international might have put more European clubs on alert during the winter’s African Cup of Nations. He’s been at Lorient since August 2023, rising through the French club’s youth ranks before earning a regular starting berth last season.
