- Jefferson Lerma snubs Crystal Palace contract offer
- The Colombian now likely to leave
- Two Spanish clubs keen
Jefferson Lerma has reportedly turned down a contract offer from Crystal Palace and is expected to leave the club. The Colombian’s current deal expires this summer and he now looks set to depart.
Spanish journalist Jose Manuel Aleman reports that Lerma has snubbed a contract proposal from Palace. He is now likely to head for the Selhurst Park exit door, and that’s a real nuisance.
The Eagles are preparing for the post-Oliver Glasner era and will want to rely on the 31-year-old’s versatility. He has dropped into central defence occasionally this season to help deal with defensive absences.
Lerma leaving?
The report claims that Sevilla and Valencia are keeping tabs on Lerma’s situation and could swoop for him if he becomes a free agent. He’s been with Palace since July 2023, arriving on a free after leaving Bournemouth.
The South Londoners are already preparing for Daichi Kamada’s exit as his contract also expires in June. Speculation continues to grow over Adam Wharton’s future and reports claim he’s held talks with Liverpool.
| Competition | Apps | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Passing Accuracy |
| Premier League | 30 | 1,634 | 0 | 2 | 79.5% |
| UEFA Conference League | 11 | 507 | 0 | 0 | 71.2% |
| Total (All Comps) | 41 | 2,141 | 0 | 2 | 75.1% |
Lerma has made 47 appearances across competitions this season, posting seven assists. His last appearance for the club might now come in the UEFA Conference League final on May 27th.
The Colombia international won the FA Cup with Palace last season. He is a popular figure in the dressing room and holds a good relationship with fans.
Not ideal for Palace
While Lerma might not be a starter, he has been a utility man for the Eagles. Losing the Colombian means the club might start the summer transfer window needing to replace two midfielders.
Kamada’s exit will undoubtedly need to be addressed, given his importance as a starter. The South London outfit might have a completely new midfield come next season.
The shortlist is believed to include Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and Rennes’ Jayden James. Those two were on the agenda before news of Lerma’s decision came to light.
That might mean Palace consider signing three new midfielders this summer and that’s not an ideal situation. The transfer chiefs will have wanted to address several areas of the squad but it seems their main focus will now be on completely overhauling the midfield.
