Forget Mateta: Vieira could unearth the "next Cristiano" at CPFC with 19 y/o starlet - opinion

Crystal Palace left it late to complete their January transfer business with a deadline day deal to make Jean-Philippe Mateta’s loan spell at Selhurst Park a permanent one as well as the signing of 19-year-old Derby County striker Luke Plange.

Having managed to score a goal and provide an assist in his four previous Premier League games for the Eagles, it’s safe to say that they have seen enough in him to make his loan deal permanent.

However, even though he’ll be spending the remainder of the current season trying to keep Derby in the Championship, Palace’s swoop for Plange could actually be the more exciting one for the club and their fans.

Derby signed the teenager from Arsenal’s youth system back in the previous summer transfer window where he scored seven goals in 23 games.

Since joining the Midlands club, the striker has racked up a total of 13 goals in 27 appearances across their U18, U23 and senior sides, showing how highly rated he is there and how capable he is of finding the back of the net at a relatively young age.

According to a report on the youngster by The Athletic, Plange said when he was younger that he wants to be “the next Cristiano Ronaldo,” which just goes to show the sort of ambition he has to try and replicate the same sort of impact and career of one of this generation’s greatest players.

Looking at the striker’s clear knack for scoring goals and the fact that current Derby manager Wayne Rooney will know an awful lot about the Portugal icon from their time playing together at Manchester United, he will be very much aware of the teen’s talents and what he could offer Palace next season.

Moving forward, with the Englishman set to join Patrick Vieira’s squad at the end of the season, this will give