The race to sign Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster has stepped up a notch with Crystal Palace submitting a bid for the 20-year-old, according to Sky Sports. Sheffield United have also expressed interest in the striker this summer – something that was confirmed by Blades boss Chris Wilder. However, Palace’s offer of £19 million with a further £6 million in add-ons is the first formal bid to be lodged. The offer includes an option for Liverpool to have first refusal on a £37 million buy-back.
Crystal Palace Submit Bid for Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster
Big Decision for Liverpool
For most of the transfer window, it looked as though Liverpool were not going to do any business. Indeed, by the time they had played their first match against Leeds United, there was absolutely no indication that, a week later, they would have Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota through the door.
While those are good additions, it does mean Liverpool are in more of a position where they need to sell due to financial constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fringe players like Brewster, who is yet to make a Premier League appearance, as well as Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Grujic, are most at risk of being shipped off.
With Brewster, though, there is a bit more hesitancy due to the success of his loan spell with Swansea City last season, where he scored 11 goals in 22 games as the Swans reached the Championship play-off semi-finals.
Sky’s report suggests that manager Jurgen Klopp is now open to the idea of letting Brewster leave, though he was previously undecided on where he would feature in his plans this season.
Forward Options for Palace
The addition of Brewster to Palace’s attacking ranks would certainly make them an exciting proposition.
They already possess Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew – Zaha has shown his quality already in the early stages of this season while Ayew was one of the surprise performers of the 2019/20 campaign, hitting nine goals.
The Eagles have also re-signed Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi on a season-long loan and have Christian Benteke in the squad, giving Roy Hodgson plenty of options going forward.
Chairman Denies Reports
Since the story was published by Sky, though, Palace chairman Steve Parish has come out on Twitter denying that the club have made any sort of offer for Brewster.
We have asked Sky to take this down
as it is a total fabrication from start to finish.We have not made a bid formal or informal. https://t.co/uIusuAsDcW
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) September 21, 2020
This could allow the likes of Sheffield United back into the race to sign Brewster.
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