Eberechi Eze's Dilemma: Stay a Palace Legend or Join Spurs' Champions League Dream?

A huge topic in this season’s summer of transfers is Eberechi Eze’s future at Crystal Palace.

After a historic FA Cup final goal to clinch their first major trophy, the question remains on everyone’s lips: is the 26-year-old outgrowing the Eagles? There’s no doubt Palace’s star man faces a defining decision.

Following a season that also marked his 12th England cap, Eze now sits comfortably among the best attacking midfielders in the country. In Tottenham Hotspur fans’ eyes, now is the time for him to be playing Champions League football — and that can happen with a move north of the river to the Europa League winners.

Palace fans fear losing another star, just like Wilfried Zaha before him.

Palace have a reputation for making it difficult for superstars to leave the club. Most notably, they prolonged the sale of Wilfried Zaha to Manchester United at virtually the same point in his career. A move for Zaha that, after being stalled for months, eventually halted his rise at the top level when he failed to deliver during his long-awaited move to the Red Devils in 2013.

The Greenwich-born baller has a choice to make. His release clause is £68 million (£8 million in add-ons/bonuses), and it’s worth noting it was reported that Palace are willing to accept three instalments of £20 million. This plan increases the likelihood of a notoriously stubborn Daniel Levy signing the future star. However, Tottenham’s chairman rarely pays £60–68 million for a player. So another option for Eze is to demand a move and force his way out of the club in a desperate attempt to lower his market value.

This would leave a sour taste in the mouth after five fruitful years playing under the bright lights at Selhurst Park.

UEFA’s Curveball

Eze’s dilemma could result in him leaping into the best club competition in football. This choice may be made a lot easier by UEFA. They are currently investigating the club’s position in the Europa League due to the majority owner and chairman John Textor’s dual ownership of the Eagles and French side Lyon. Palace therefore have not complied with rulings that prohibit an owner from having two clubs in the same tournament. They risk missing out on their first ever Europa League spot — giving less reason for their star player to stay and more reason for him to make the move into the Champions League.

Having never played in Europe and fresh off his FA Cup heroics, Eberechi Eze is peaking. He will no doubt be eager to capitalise on last season’s success — and this transfer may be the way to catapult his name into a new stratosphere.

For all the N17 fans out there, there’s still a way to go, but Spurs are closer than ever to signing one of England’s brightest prospects this summer. Keep an eye on Crystal Palace’s status in the Europa League and the amount Tottenham spend before deadline day — because, in true Tottenham fashion, this saga will go right down to the wire…