Crystal Palace are interested in acquiring the services of 28-year-old Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Crystal Palace are keen on having Jefferson Lerma in their ranks ahead of next season. The 28-year-old midfielder is all set to part ways with Bournemouth in the summer and Palace are leading the race for his signatures at this point in time.
Lerma joined Bournemouth back in the summer of 2018. He has gone from strength to strength since joining the English club. He has been the mainstay of their team for the last few seasons.
As far as the ongoing season is concerned, the 28-year-old has been involved in 36 Premier League games and has 5 goals to his name. While he has been the mainstay of the team of late, the Colombian international is all set to part ways with the club in the upcoming transfer window.
Crystal Palace are closing in on deal to sign Jefferson Lerma as free agent from Bournemouth. Final details are being discussed in order to get it done soon. 🔴🔵🇨🇴 #CPFC
In any case, Lerma will leave Bournemouth on free transfer this summer. pic.twitter.com/gTEq40Gmx5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2023
His contract with the club ends in the summer. And, despite numerous attempts from the club to extend his stay, the 28-year-old has decided to leave and he will be available as a free agent.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are keen on having the Colombian international in their squad. The Eagles have been following his situation for a while now and are all set to land him at the club in the summer.
Palace have done a decent job in the 2022-23 season. But, their manager Roy Hodgson believes there is a lot of room for improvement and has identified a few areas that need reinforcement heading into next season.
He is keen on having a new midfielder in the mix. The 75-year-old is keen on adding a defensive-minded midfielder to his squad and believes Lerma could do wonders for them. He will provide the much-needed defensive solidity on which they can build further.
Romano believes the deal between Palace and Lerma is in the final stages. The Eagles are close to completing the deal, the final details are being discussed as they are eager to get it done as soon as possible.
While Palace are leading the race to his signatures, there are other clubs keen on having him. As a result, it will be interesting to see where Lerma plays his football next season. But, one thing is certain, the 28-year-old will leave the Cherries after the end of the season.
