Nice’s player of the year last season has struggled under Unai Emery; signing of Tammy Abraham pushes him further down the pecking order
Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand is set to leave the Midlands club after just six months and join Crystal Palace.
Palace are understood to have reached an agreement with Villa to sign the 24-year-old on loan. They will pay a £2m loan fee but are expected to have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Guessand was highly sought after by clubs in Europe after being named Nice’s player of the season as the French club finished fourth in Ligue 1. Villa won the race to sign him for £3om in August. But the Ivory Coast international has since struggled under Unai Emery, scoring just two goals in 21 appearances, with only six league starts.
Villa have already secured the services of the 28-year-old Tammy Abraham this window, giving Guessand more reason to find another club.
Palace have been seeking attacking reinforcements and believe Guessand is the right profile. They have already signed Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson and are in talks with Wolves to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen, although Jean-Philippe Mateta may also be on his way out amid interest from Nottingham Forest.
