Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing FC Augsburg midfielder Ruben Vargas.
The Eagles have only managed to sign midfielder Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer from Bournemouth this summer. Having released Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur and Wilfried Zaha upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of the last season, they are assessing options to strengthen their squad for the upcoming 2023/24 campaign.
According to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph, Crystal Palace are planning to make a loan swoop for FC Augsburg’s Ruben Vargas.
Vargas, 24, has been with FC Augsburg since joining from FC Luzern in 2019, racking up 18 goals and 15 assists in 119 appearances across all competitions. The Switzerland international had a mixed 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign, where he could only muster three goals and five assists in 23 appearances.
Ruben Vargas to Crystal Palace—Right move for the club?
Crystal Palace have officially lost club legend Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray and are now sweating over the future of Michael Olise.
Losing Zaha is undoubtedly a major blow, with the Ivory Coast international deciding to leave Selhurst Park after his contract had expired rather than prolong his stay at the club by signing a new deal. In what could be another bad news for Roy Hodgson and Palace, Olise is attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.
As a result, the Eagles must replace Zaha as well as potentially prepare for the departure of Olise. They have Augsburg’s Ruben Vargas on their list of options to bolster the attacking unit. Having performed well across four seasons at Augsburg, Vargas now appears ready to make the next step up.
The 24-year-old is an experienced Switzerland international who can play in multiple positions across midfield and attack. A left-winger by trade, Vargas can play on the right flank, as a second striker or in midfield, providing Hodgson with some welcome versatility should he indeed sign. There is no doubt that he is highly rated, and at 24, Vargas could give his best years to the Eagles too.
In terms of other qualities, the 34-cap Switzerland international is pacey, unpredictable and direct, which would make him a perfect fit in Hodgson’s counter-attacking system at Selhurst Park. A good crosser of the ball with either foot, his supplies in the box could see Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta take full advantage of.
Palace will certainly need to bring in quality players between now and the end of the transfer window, but signing Vargas will go a long way to showing that they have a long-term plan in a summer that has seen them lose one of their legends in Zaha.
