For Crystal Palace supporters, intrigued by those links with a highly-rated defensive midfielder, we regretfully have to remind you not to believe everything you read.
Because the reports suggesting that Oliver Glasner’s rejuvenated side have made ‘an offer’ for a 24-year-old Frenchman appear to be wide of the mark, presuming one Ertugrul Dogan is as good as his word.
Crystal Palace appear to be stepping up their plans for the upcoming summer window, especially after those victories over Newcastle, West Ham United and Liverpool put a hefty gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
The Eagles, HITC understands, are pursuing a number of exciting transfer targets, including Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, Real Betis’ former Barcelona left-back Juan Miranda, and Juventus’ England Under 21 international Samuel Iling-Junior.
Glasner is also keen to work with two players he knows well from Austrian football; Rapid Vienna duo Matthias Seidl and Leopold Querfeld.
But as far as Batista Mendy is concerned, no bids have arrived yet for a man Trabzonspor value at ‘a minimum’ of £10 million (Sporx). At least, that’s what the aforementioned president says.
Crystal Palace Batista Mendy rumours played down
“There is no official offer for Mendy,” Dogan tells Sporx, seemingly rubbishing the reports claiming that Palace had put a bid on the table.
“Trabzonspor has no intention of selling either. We want to create a competetive Trabzonspor next year. Our view is clear unless a very serious and very different offer comes.
“There are offers for other players. At the end of the year, we will contact our coach. We will sit down and evaluate (what to do).”
24-year-old Mendy, capped by France at youth level, is an aggressive yet technically-skilled ‘number six’ capable of stopping opposition attacks as well as starting those of his own. Palace, if indeed they do hold an interest, may be pursuing the former Nantes youngster with concerns over Chieck Doucoure’s fitness in mind.
Oliver Glasner hopeful over Cheick Doucoure
Doucoure has not featured since snapping his Achilles in November, though the increasingly-popular Glasner remains hopeful that Palace’s reigning Player of the Year will make his return in the final few matches of the current campaign.
“Of course, he and the whole team are working very hard for him maybe to have some minutes at the end of the season,” Glasner told the club’s official website in March. “But if you have such an injury, and are out for such a long period, I cannot say if it will happen or not.
“What I see every day is that he and our team are working really hard for him to get some minutes. He has extended his contract until 2029, so we have five more years and many games.
“It’s not so important he has two games this season. It’s important he has 50 next year.”