Crystal Palace complete first summer signing as Bournemouth star agrees deal

Crystal Palace are leading the race to sign Jefferson Lerma who will be a free agent in the summer after refusing to pen a new deal with Bournemouth.

The 28-year-old was the club’s Player of the Year in a season where they defied the odds and stayed in the Premier League despite looking like they’d be relegated at the start of the campaign.

The Colombian midfielder joined Bournemouth from Spanish side Levante in 2018 and has made 99 Premier League appearances, 77 Championship games, and scored a total of 12 goals and assisted eight times.

But beyond his goals and assists is his overall performance which has been significant as Gary O’Neils’s side has secured Premier League survival with games to spare.

Palace will say goodbye to veteran midfielder James McArthur this season after nine years at the club and it looks like that void will be filled by Jefferson Lerma with the Eagles board showing an eye for shrewd signing. The fact that Palace have secured his signing early will allow him time to turn up for preseason ready and afford him time to settle before the season kicks in.

Palace are also still hopeful that star man Wilfried Zaha will sign a new contract having offered a staggering £200,000-a-week-wages.

Zaha is yet to decide on his next destination but it is believed that he is seriously considering staying in south London even though playing in the Champions League is still high on his agenda. The signing of Jefferson Lerma however shows that the Eagles are planning and positioning themselves for brilliant summer.