Crystal Palace faces competition from Southampton for Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards, who may be available for the right price.
According to The Athletic, Chris Richards is attracting considerable interest from Premier League clubs Southampton and Crystal Palace. The Bayern Munich defender could be allowed to leave the club if a sizeable offer matching his valuation arrives.
Chris Richards has been silently making his mark in the Bundesliga, away from the spotlight. The USMNT defender was excellent during his loan spell with Hoffenheim, where he made 20 league appearances last season.
Bayern Munich are not exactly looking to offload him in the summer, but if a sizeable offer does arrive from Premier League sides, they might consider a sale.
Crystal Palace have been keen on the 22-year-old versatile centre-back. Patrick Vieira is intent on bringing in up-and-coming players to aid his rebuild at the Selhurst Park. Since last summer, the London side have recruited many young, unpolished players and have reaped good results with regard to their development trajectory.
While Vieira has an established centre-back partnership in Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi, adding another top talent would be necessary as James Tomkins is entering the final phase of his career, while Martin Kelly is set to depart as a free agent, making Richards a viable target for the Eagles.
Moreover, Richards can also put himself in a full-back role, which only adds to the appeal for Crystal Palace. However, they now face competition from Southampton for the USMNT star, with the Saints keen on bringing the defender to the club. Ralph Hasenhuttl is keen on signing a new player in the position to bolster the Saints’ defensive options heading into the upcoming season.
While the manager may be looking to add Richards to their existing options, he could also pose as a replacement should Mohammed Salisu leave. The USMNT star could be a good option, although the Saints will have to deal with Bayern’s demands for the defender.
As things stand, Crystal Palace and Southampton are hot on the trail of Richards, who could be a fine acquisition for either club this summer. He possesses the physicality and pace to match the intensity of the Premier League and has the potential to shine in England.
