Eberechi Eze Crystal Palace release clause explained amid Tottenham transfer talks

Eberechi Eze could be a Tottenham player before the summer transfer window closes with the club opening talks with Crystal Palace over a potential deal.

The 27-year-old, who featured in the Community Shield win over Liverpool on Sunday, has been linked with a move to both Spurs and Arsenal this summer but a move has, so far, failed to come to fruition. According to Paul O Keefe, talks between Tottenham and Palace have now taken place, although the Gunners are monitoring the situation.

Interestingly, there has been much talk about the transfer fee Palace would demand for Eze and his release clause. The Englishman has a £67.5million release clause that expires before the start of the Premier League season,football.london understands.

Crystal Palace are believed to want in the region of £35million up front in any deal, but the release clause expiration would not change the club’s valuation of the player. The player is understood to be very keen on a move to Arsenal but could also see himself playing for Spurs, with Champions League football a real attraction.

The expiration of Eze’s release clause is not understood to be a concern as Palace have a valuation of the player regardless, although there is hope that the south London club’s stance could soften later in the window. Some outlets have reported that the release clause expired on August 1, while others believe it will expire on Friday, August 15. football.london has only been told that the release clause expires before the start of the Premier League season so there is some slight confusion, although Palace would still demand a similar fee regardless of if the release clause is active or not.

It comes after football.londonreported this week that Thomas Frank was still looking for a No.10 and a new centre-back, and would look for any other opportunities that arise in the market. The Tottenham head coach confirmed after the 4-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Thursday that if one of those opportunities was someone to replace Son Heung-min, who has departed for LAFC, then the club would take it.

“Sonny was a key player for 10 seasons. He has left the club. We have both good young players in Mathys [Tel] and Wilson [Odobert] and they are really promising and can perform,” said Frank. “Brennan [Johnson] can also play that side. As I said, we are in the market. If we think we can find the right one, one who can improve the team, then he will be signed. If we can’t, then not.”