Crystal Palace agree stunning £26m deal for Newcastle and Chelsea transfer target with medical booked

Crystal Palace have responded to the departure of Wilfried Zaha with a brilliant signing of promising Brazilian youngster Matheus Franca as the Eagles prepare for the upcoming Premier League season.

Newcastle United and Chelsea were all reported to be interested in the youngster but it is Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace who have secured his signature with the player set to fly in for his medical this week.

The Eagles will pay an initial £19million with a further seven million set to be added down the line based on performances and if he ever gets to make it as one of the world’s best footballers.

Franca is highly rated in Brazil and has already scored nine goals in 54 games for giants Flamengo and he comes in south London with the almost impossible task of replacing Wilfried Zaha.

The Eagles talisman turned down the chance to sign a new deal despite they offering him a massive £200k-a-week wage that had never been heard before at the club. Instead, he moved to Galatasaray for a much lower wage even though he did pocked a significant transfer fee.

The departure of Zaha who has more than 400 appearances for the Eagles throws up a challenge for a team that has always leaned heavily on the Ivory Coast international. Roy Hodgson who replaced Patrick Vieira for the seond half of last season will hope that Eberechi Eze and exciting winger Michael Olise might be able to continue their fine form that saw the Eagles recover from a position of weakness to comfortably finish 12th in the league table.