Crystal Palace have reportedly ended their pursuit of Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey despite the player’s willingness to work with Patrick Vieira.
According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are prepared to walk away from their pursuit of Aaron Ramsey. The Premier League outfit had lately emerged as the front-runner in the race to sign the 31-year-old Juventus midfielder, with the player himself reportedly keen on working with Patrick Vieira during the second half of the campaign.
However, it appears Palace are set to cool interest in the Welshman, which could serve as a major blow for Juventus. The playmaker currently earns around £400,000 per week in Turin, which has crippled the Serie A club’s financial powers in the market, especially in the midst of a lengthening pandemic.
In an attempt to free up some funds, Juventus were keen on offloading Ramsey in the January transfer window. Their head coach Massimiliano Allegri had even described him as an “outgoing player” in a press conference.
Ramsey, for his part, believes he still has what it takes to land at a top club in the Premier League. The 31-year-old has attracted a lot of interest from various English clubs, though it appears he had already rejected advances from Newcastle United, Wolves and Burnley. The former Arsenal midfielder even declined the chance to join a few Spanish clubs, including Sevilla.
Recent reports had suggested that Crystal Palace were in talks with the midfielder, exploring the possibility of a January switch. Ramsey himself was keen to arrive at Selhurst Park this month and work with Vieira.
However, it seems the Eagles are prepared to move on and target other alternatives in the market. Although the report fails to pinpoint any particular reasoning behind Palace’s stance, they have been likely put off by the player’s hefty wages. Even if Ramsey had agreed to take a pay cut, the Eagles might not have had the finances to afford his weekly salary of £400,000.
As a result, Patrick Vieira is prepared to set his sights on other options available in the market. Crystal Palace have been in contention to sign Dwight McNeil this January, but with Burnley remaining persistent with their staggering £40 million price tag, the Londoners may have to wait until the summer before making a move.
