As per one of the latest reports, Premier League outfit Crystal Palace are eyeing Benfica’s versatile defender Andre Almeida in order to beef up their squad strength. Under the stewardship of Frank De Boer, the Eagles are breathing a new life and would be keen to better their performances this season, having finished 14th in the league last time around.
De Boer hasn’t been very active this summer in his recruitments, although he did lure Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea on loan and Jairo Riedewald from Ajax. His latest acquisition of Manchester United’s blossoming prospect in the form of Tim Fosu-Mensah. None of the players have the experience though the need to sign a marquee sort of player is imperative in the remainder of the transfer window.
Meanwhile, it has to be stated that De Boer’s target Almeida is a decent prospect to have in their ranks. Having emerged through the youth ranks of Loures, Sporting CP, Alverca and Belenenses, the Portuguese international eventually paved his way to the senior side of Belenenses and then cemented his stature at Benfica. Playing in the Premier League is a dream of innumerable footballers across the planet and Almeida is no different.
The Portuguese outfit, despite their keenness to tie him to the club by offering a new contract, haven’t been successful in doing so, and this is why clubs like Crystal Palace are lining up to sign him. Apart from being a reliable defender, he has perennially demonstrated his ability of marauding forward to attack and maintains a fine balance between his offensive and defensive endeavours.
Besides, his technical understanding of the game is simply exemplary and over the course of his career, the Portuguese has accumulated truckloads of talent under his belt which, of course, gives his good books in the books of the football fraternity. He reads the game well and one could always see him trying to get the right passes time and again to make sure that the game goes in favour of his employers.
The interest coming from the London-based outfit to make Almeida sign on the dotted line actually makes a lot of sense. Despite being a right-back predominantly, the 26-year-old is capable enough to work efficiently from the left-back slot as well as a defensive midfielder with relative ease. Southampton have also put his on their radar, and thus, Crystal Palace aren’t likely to find it easy to sign him.
