Crystal Palace are reportedly considering re-signing former defender Nathaniel Clyne whose contract with the Eagles expired at the end of June.
According to a report from The Telegraph, Crystal Palace are mulling over the possibility of re-signing former defender Nathaniel Clyne, who is currently a free agent after his contract with the London club ran out over a month ago.
A product of the Crystal Palace youth academy, Clyne earned his spurs at Selhurst Park before sealing a transfer to Southampton in the summer of 2012. The right-back spent three years with the Saints, establishing himself as one of the most promising players in his position in the Premier League.
Soon enough, a big move to Liverpool materialised in 2015, although it was far from a roaring success for Clyne. Although he featured fairly regularly early in his tenure at Anfield, the emergence of a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold, coupled with his own fitness issues, meant that he became an afterthought for manager Jurgen Klopp.
So, after a short stint away on loan at Bournemouth in 2019, Clyne left Liverpool last summer, signing for boyhood club Crystal Palace on a free transfer. However, the 30-year-old had a few fitness issues back at Selhurst Park as well, which limited him to just 14 appearances during the 2020/21 season.
Clyne’s contract with Crystal Palace expired on the 30th of June, from which point he has become a free agent. However, the former Liverpool man has continued to train with the Eagles under new manager Patrick Vieira and has even featured quite prominently in the pre-season friendlies for the south London outfit.
And, now, it seems like Crystal Palace are warming up to the idea of handing the 30-year-old a fresh contract. Vieira, who has bolstered his centre-back department with the signings of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi, will also need to sign a new right-back this summer. While Joel Ward has been re-signed on a new deal, he is 31 and does not have cover for him in the position.
So, bringing Clyne back into the fold after having gotten a closer look at him in the pre-season makes a great deal of sense for the Arsenal legend. The fact that the ex-Liverpool and Southampton defender will cost nothing in transfer fees and is familiar with the club will only add to the appeal of re-signing him.
It now remains to be seen if Palace do actually hand Clyne a new contract in the coming days. The Eagles also remain in the market to strengthen their attacking options and have set their sights on Bournemouth’s Arnaut Danjuma, among others.