Crystal Palace make major Eberechi Eze replacement decision as Tottenham transfer nears

Crystal Palace are said to have offered Club Brugge around £26million for Christos Tzolis as they pursue players to replace Eberechi Eze amid talks with Tottenham Hotspur.

Eze appeared to wave in the direction of Palace fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday after being substituted in their 0-0 draw with Chelsea. Spurs are keen to sign the playmaker as a replacement for the injured James Maddison.

Palace had a release clause in Eze's contract for much of this summer transfer window, but that expired last week when the Premier League season started. They appear to be preparing for his exit, though.

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The Telegraph football reporter Mike McGrath claims Palace have made a £26million bid for Tzolis, but Brugge are said to value their forward at around £35million. McGrath adds that the Greece international is one of the players they are looking at, linking that to Tottenham attempting to sign Eze.

The Athletic football correspondent David Ornstein reported on Sunday that Palace had already seen a bid rejected, but did not disclose any fee. However, he claimed that they plan to return with an improved offer while acknowledging that the club are speaking with the representatives of Tzolis, who was said to be emerging as a serious candidate.

Bilal El Khannouss appears to be another option Palace are pursuing. They have reportedly approached Leicester City about exploring a potential move for the Morocco international.

The Athletic, though, acknowledges that the terms of an exit are complex, with no guarantees that the 21-year-old will leave. That is despite the playmaker reputedly being open to such a move.

Leicester paid Brugge's rivals Genk around £20million for El Khannouss last summer, so would presumably want to make their money back at least. Any fee Palace receive for Eze could effectively finance both of these signings.