“Would offer a much better chance” – Crystal Palace’s pursuit of Derby County teenager: The verdict

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Crystal Palace are in a strong position to sign Malcolm Ebiowei this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 18-year-old caught the eye in the second half of the season at Derby County, and will be available at a reduced price due to the Rams being unable to offer him a new contract.

Ebiowei only made 16 league appearances and Wayne Rooney integrated him gradually, but by the end of the season he was of the most exciting players to watch in the division and it is not a surprise to see Premier League interest emerge.

Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have shown that there is a pathway to the first team for younger players, without previous top-flight experience, at Palace, and that will make it an attractive option for the teenager.

We gathered the thoughts of a selection of FLW writers to see if they believe that Ebiowei would be a smart addition for the Eagles…

Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson

Crystal Palace should not expect an immediate impact from Malcolm Ebiowei should they sign him, but in the long term, it could be a great deal.

Having made just 16 senior appearances in his career, the 18-year-old’s life as a senior footballer is still in its tender stages, but Selhurst Park under Patrick Vieira could be a fantastic environment in which to continue his development.

A move to Manchester United would be great, but you would think the Crystal Palace route would offer a much better chance at first-team Premier League football, with Manchester United stacked full of multi-million pound signings in Ebiowei’s