Crystal Palace may leave Eberechi Eze out of their season opener against Chelsea on Sunday. The club has identified Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss as a possible replacement and is reportedly discussing whether Eze should skip the trip to Stamford Bridge as talks with Tottenham heat up.
Spurs have ramped up their efforts to sign the 27-year-old this week after James Maddison’s knee injury ruled him out for much of the season. While Tottenham has held discussions with Palace, no official bid has been made yet.
Eze’s £67.5 million release clause expired on Friday, but Palace still expect a similar fee—with a significant portion paid upfront—to part with the player, who scored the winner in May’s FA Cup final. Spurs are reluctant to meet that price, though negotiations continue, and they believe Eze is keen on the move despite Arsenal’s strong interest this summer. Arsenal was thought to be his preferred choice, but they have yet to make an approach as they focus on trimming their squad.
After missing out on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Tottenham sees Eze as a creative boost for their Champions League campaign. QPR, who sold Eze to Palace for £19.5 million in 2020, are entitled to 15% of any profit from his sale.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said on Friday that he expects both Eze and Marc Guéhi—who has attracted interest from Liverpool—to play against Chelsea. “Marc has trained all week, as has Ebs,” Glasner said. “They’re preparing for Sunday’s game. But I’ve been in football long enough to know things can change at any moment. Right now, I expect both to start.”
FAQS
### **FAQs About Eberechi Eze’s Potential Absence vs. Chelsea & Tottenham Transfer Rumors**
#### **General Questions**
**1. Why might Eberechi Eze miss the match against Chelsea?**
Eze could be rested or left out of the squad due to ongoing transfer rumors linking him with a move to Tottenham.
**2. Is Eze injured, or is his absence transfer-related?**
As of now, there’s no confirmed injury—his potential absence is likely due to transfer speculation.
**3. How reliable are the rumors linking Eze to Tottenham?**
Several reputable sources have reported Tottenham’s interest, but no official bid or agreement has been confirmed yet.
#### **Transfer & Contract Details**
**4. How much would Tottenham have to pay for Eze?**
Reports suggest Crystal Palace would demand around £60 million or more for his transfer.
**5. Does Eze have a release clause in his contract?**
There’s no confirmed release clause, so Palace can set their own asking price.
**6. When does Eze’s contract expire?**
His current deal runs until 2027, giving Palace strong negotiating power.
#### **Impact on Crystal Palace & Tottenham**
**7. How would losing Eze affect Crystal Palace?**
He’s a key creative player, so his departure would be a big blow to their attack.
**8. Where would Eze fit in at Tottenham?**
He could play as an attacking midfielder or winger, adding creativity to Spurs’ frontline.
**9. Would Eze be a starter at Tottenham?**
Likely, yes—he’d compete with players like Maddison but has the quality to earn a key role.
#### **Match-Related Concerns**
**10. If Eze doesn’t play vs. Chelsea, does that mean a transfer is close?**
Not necessarily—clubs sometimes protect players from injury during negotiations, but it’s not a guarantee.
**11. Who could replace Eze in Palace’s lineup against Chelsea?**
Michael Olise or Jeffrey Schlupp could take his place in the attack.
#### **Fan & Fantasy Football Questions**
**12. Should I transfer Eze out of my FPL team now?**
If he’s benched or the transfer
