Crystal Palace Look to Bolster Defence with Move for Ajax Star | OneFootball

Crystal Palace Weigh Up Borna Sosa Deal Amid Europa League Uncertainty

Palace’s Left Flank Under Scrutiny

Crystal Palace are in the market for reinforcements and have turned their attention to Ajax’s Borna Sosa, report The Athletic . The Croatian international is one of several options being considered to add much-needed depth and competition for Tyrick Mitchell, who has carried a heavy load at left-back for the past four seasons.

Sosa, 27, is understood to have received an offer from the South London club, with talks ongoing. A move would make sense for both parties, though the Croatian has other options to consider. Palace, who “hope to be playing Europa League football next season”, are waiting on UEFA’s ruling regarding their qualification following their FA Cup triumph.

It is a precarious situation. The club’s European ambitions are entangled in the bureaucratic complexities of multi-club ownership, with John Textor’s Eagle Football also holding a stake in Lyon, who qualified for the same competition. “With the date for the hearing of Lyon’s appeal against their relegation yet to be determined, it leaves Palace in something of a stasis.”

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Sosa’s Struggles and Suitability

Sosa’s recent career has not been without turbulence. After joining Ajax from Stuttgart in 2023, he was loaned to Torino last season, making 19 appearances in Serie A. He lost his place in the squad in February and did not feature again after falling out of favour and picking up an injury.

His international record remains strong, with 26 caps for Croatia. He “started five of their six games as they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022”, although he played just once at the recent European Championship. While his club form has fluctuated, his technical quality and attacking instinct from left wing-back could make him a shrewd pick for Oliver Glasner’s system.

Palace attempted to address the left-back depth issue in January, bringing in Ben Chilwell on loan from Chelsea. However, Chilwell struggled to make an impact, managing only seven substitute appearances and one start in the Premier League. That left Mitchell exposed once again.

Mitchell’s Durability Has Limits

Since breaking into the first team in 2021, Tyrick Mitchell has been the epitome of consistency, missing just six league matches in four seasons. Last term, he made 37 Premier League appearances and remained an ever-present figure, despite playing through minor injuries.

“It is testament to how well he has done over the past five years that they have not brought anyone else in beyond Chilwell,” wrote Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam. However, relying so heavily on Mitchell is a long-term risk. Sosa’s arrival would not just provide cover but could push Mitchell further, encouraging improvement and offering tactical flexibility for Glasner, who has shifted Palace towards a more modern wing-back approach.

European Drama Creates Transfer Uncertainty

The final hurdle is not the player or his willingness but the surrounding UEFA noise. Palace’s proposed move for Sosa is inevitably impacted by their unresolved Europa League status. Should Lyon be relegated from Ligue 1 due to financial irregularities, they will forfeit their spot, clearing a path for Palace. If not, the Eagles may find themselves on the outside looking in, a scenario that could affect both their budget and their appeal to prospective signings.

This wait-and-see game has paralysed certain elements of Palace’s planning. As the club prepare for pre-season, the fog of uncertainty continues to linger. It is not an ideal backdrop to secure a player of Sosa’s calibre, especially when other clubs can offer more immediate clarity and European football without strings attached.

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Expectant Crystal Palace Fan Opinion

This Sosa deal might not be flashy, but it is exactly the kind of business Palace need to be doing right now. Mitchell has been superb, no doubt, but he is human. Four seasons as first choice, hardly missing a beat, and constantly asked to play through knocks? That can’t go on forever.

Bringing in someone like Sosa, who has World Cup and Bundesliga experience, feels like a smart move, even if he’s coming off a bumpy spell at Torino. Players lose form, but the raw tools are there. He’s quick, can deliver from wide, and is used to playing in a back five — that suits Glasner’s system.

The big frustration for fans is the UEFA hold-up. We won the FA Cup. We earned that Europa League place. But instead, we’re stuck watching a legal row over Lyon, wondering whether we’re building a squad for Thursday nights in Europe or just another domestic campaign.

That uncertainty could cost us in the market. If Sosa signs and we end up in the Conference League or out of Europe entirely, will that feel like enough? Still, if the club pull this off, it might finally be Mitchell getting the help he’s needed all along. Long overdue.