LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Tyrick Mitchell of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on February 12, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace make contact to sign winger with £12m release clause after Liverpool reject Ben Doak bid.
Crystal Palace are keen to sign a new winger this month.
Earlier in the January transfer window, Crystal Palace saw a £15m bid rejected for Ben Doak by Liverpool, with Ipswich Town also keen on the Scotland international shining on loan at Middlesbrough.
TBR Football understand Crystal Palace are set to make another bid for Doak – worth at least £20m – although Ipswich Town are also ready to submit a second offer.
As this situation rumbles on, Crystal Palace have – interestingly – now made an approach to sign Romain Esse from Millwall.
Crystal Palace make contact with Millwall regarding Romain Esse
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the Eagles have been in touch with their south London rivals to ask about the England U20 international.
The reliable Italian journalist wrote: “Crystal Palace have made an approach to sign Romain Esse as one of the players high on their list. Not an easy deal for January but Millwall gem is appreciated by Palace.”
Crystal Palace have made an approach to sign Romain Esse as one of the players high on their list.
Not an easy deal for January but Milwall gem is appreciated by Palace. pic.twitter.com/lhn4iU7tju
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 6, 2025
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Like Doak, the Millwall No.25 often starts on the right flank, cutting inside on his stronger left foot to devastating effect, just as Michael Olise did at Selhurst Park before joining Bayern Munich last summer.
️ “Look at that finish!”
That’s one way to open up your #Millwall account, Rom… pic.twitter.com/ElTJuUJbku
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) August 6, 2023
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TBR Football understand Millwall would prefer to keep Esse at The Den this month.
Dougie Freedman could sign Romain Esse for £12m
Olise was signed from Reading for just £8m back in July 2021 thanks to a release clause written into his contract.
Dougie Freedman – Director of Football at Crystal Palace – could use that same method to sign Esse, as the Daily Mail claim the teenager has a £12m release clause in his terms at Millwall.
Romain Esse of England pictured during the international match between England Elite League Squad and Germany U20 at SMH Group Stadium on November …
Photo by Matt Lewis – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Liverpool are believed to want £25m for Doak, so this would be a considerably cheaper deal for the Eagles to pursue.
Esse – who plays like Bukayo Saka – may presumably be open to joining Crystal Palace this month too, given the fact he is already based in south London.
Whatever happens Freedman clearly isn’t just putting all of his eggs into the Doak basket.
