Crystal Palace face a fresh fight to keep Evann Guessand after allowing their option to buy the Aston Villa forward to expire.
The Standard reports that Palace remain interested in the 24-year-old, but the lapsed clause means Aston Villa can now assess rival enquiries from England and Europe.
Guessand joined Palace on loan in January, with the club confirming at the time that the deal included an option to make the move permanent. That structure once gave Palace a clear route to control the negotiation.
It no longer does.
Palace Risk Losing Control Of Guessand Talks
The core issue is timing.
Guessand was understood to be happy in south London, but Palace’s managerial uncertainty earlier this summer complicated any immediate commitment. Pierre Sage is now in place, yet Villa can use the wider market before deciding the forward’s next move.
For Palace, the danger is obvious. Guessand already knows the squad, has Premier League experience and arrived with a reported £28million buy option.
That player could now become part of a wider auction.
Read Crystal Palace has already covered why Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contract push has become urgent. Guessand’s uncertainty adds another attacking decision to Sage’s first summer.
Villa are not expected to block a sale if the numbers work, but Palace’s advantage has narrowed. If Steve Parish and the recruitment team still want Guessand, they may need to move quickly before external interest reshapes the price.
