Crystal Palace and Everton are among the prospective suitors to sign 21-year-old Belgian defender Aster Vranckx from Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on HITC, Aster Vranckx is the subject of interest from Crystal Palace. The VfL Wolfsburg defender is also a target for Everton in the summer transfer window. However, the Eagles lead the race to sign the 21-year-old from the Bundesliga club, with the youngster valued at around £15 million.
Aster Vranckx and his topsy-turvy ride at VfL Wolfsburg
Aster Vranckx took no time to establish himself as one of the best young prospects in the Bundesliga when he joined VfL Wolfsburg from KV Mechelen in July 2021. However, after a solid debut season with the Bundesliga club, he joined AC Milan, where he could not make his mark in the 2022/23 season.
The 21-year-old returned to VfL Wolfsburg last summer but was in and out of the starting lineup at the Volkswagen Arena in the 2023/24 season. While Vranckx turned out 26 times across all competitions for Wolfsburg, he could not even managed 1,500 minutes of game time.
So, it is hardly surprising that Vranckx faces an uncertain future at the Bundesliga club in the summer transfer window. However, the Belgian international does not have a shortage of suitors pursuing his services, with Premier League clubs Everton and Crystal Palace vying for his signature.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Everton’s interest in Aster Vranckx is understandable. The Toffees have been scouring the market for a central defender heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Jarrad Branthwaite. So, the 21-year-old Belgian centre-back has emerged as a viable target for Everton.
However, the Toffees are behind Crystal Palace in the race to secure Aster Vranckx’s services, with the South London outfit being the only club to make progress in talks to sign him. The Eagles are also in a spot of bother over the future of a centre-back, with Marc Guehi a target for European bigwigs. Vranckx is thus an option worth considering for Crystal Palace.
The 21-year-old Belgian international will not cost a bomb, with Wolfsburg demanding only £15 million to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. So, it will be interesting to see if Everton can usurp Crystal Palace or if the Eagles sign Vranckx.
