Crystal Palace face a tough summer call on Justin Devenny as new EFL interest has sparked an active transfer race for the player.
The72 report that Southampton and Preston North End have joined Leicester City in tracking the 22-year-old midfielder, with Leicester said to be capable of paying up to £5m. The report also states Devenny has one year left on his Palace contract, which puts the club in a familiar but delicate position.
This is no longer just an academy-success story. Devenny has moved beyond development football, played meaningful senior minutes and built a profile strong enough for Championship clubs to see him as a first-team player rather than a project.
For Palace, the decision now sits between three routes: keep him around Pierre Sage’s squad, sell while there is clear market interest, or use the EFL demand to arrange a loan that protects his long-term value.
Devenny Has Earned A Proper Palace Decision
Palace’s own first-team profile underlines how quickly Devenny’s rise has gathered pace. He scored his first Palace goal at Aston Villa in November 2024, ended his breakthrough season with 28 senior appearances and an FA Cup winners’ medal, then followed it with 32 appearances in 2025/26.
There have been more than cameo moments, too. Devenny scored the decisive penalty in Palace’s Community Shield win over Liverpool, later scored in Europe against KuPS and also got his first senior Northern Ireland goal.
That background changes the transfer conversation. If Southampton, Preston and Leicester were chasing a young player with only under-21 pedigree, a sale would look straightforward. Devenny is different. Palace have already used him across domestic, European and international workloads, and his versatility gives Sage a useful squad option before another demanding season.
Read Crystal Palace have already covered how Palace are trying to preserve core squad depth, including the club’s contract decision around Daichi Kamada after last season’s European success. Devenny’s situation fits the same wider theme: Palace cannot freshen the squad without weakening the layers underneath it.
Sale, Loan Or Squad Role?
The cleanest accounting call would be a permanent sale. Devenny arrived from Airdrieonians in 2023, progressed through the under-21s and now has reported interest at a level where Palace could bank a strong return. With one year left on his deal, doing nothing would carry obvious risk.
But football logic is not quite as simple. Devenny can cover central midfield, attacking midfield and wide areas. The Irish News also reported last month that he was aiming to impress Palace’s incoming manager, with Devenny speaking about pre-season as a fresh start and saying he wanted to play week in, week out.
That gives Palace a useful lever. A new contract and Championship loan would give Devenny the regular football he wants without cutting off a pathway Palace have spent years trying to make credible. Southampton or Preston could offer minutes at a strong level, while Palace would keep control if he develops into a Premier League-ready option.
A sale may still make sense if the fee climbs and Devenny wants a clearer starting role elsewhere. Leicester’s reported ability to reach £5m gives Palace a benchmark, especially with multiple clubs now in the race.
The smarter move, though, may be patience. Devenny has already shown he can handle bigger stages, and Palace’s European schedule will test squad depth again. Sage’s first pre-season should decide whether he is part of that plan or whether the EFL interest has arrived at the right time for everyone.
Either way, Palace have reached the point they wanted with Devenny. Their academy route has produced a valuable senior asset. The next call has to show whether they are building a pathway or cashing in before it fully matures.
