Crystal Palace – three young guns
With Frank de Boer newly-installed as manager, Crystal Palace fans are looking forward to a new era at Selhurst Park.
The 47-year-old Dutchman brings undoubted star quality to the Eagles hotseat, given his reputation as one of Europe’s finest defenders during his playing days with Ajax and Barcelona.
As a manager, de Boer won four Eredivise titles with Ajax and also gave debuts to academy products such as Everton’s new £23.6 million signing Davy Klaasen, Viktor Fischer, who scored 33 goals for the Dutch giants before his unsuccessful spell with Middlesbrough, and current Palace target Kenny Tete.
The Eagles’ new chief isn’t scared to give youth a chance, so we’ve taken a look at three young players that could force their way into de Boer’s first-team plans.
Luke Dreher
Luke Dreher has already been mentioned as a future Palace captain – no pressure, young man.
(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
There is significant buzz surround the 18-year-old midfielder, who hails from Epsom and was named the club’s under-18 player of the year for 2016.
In April that year, the teenager, who has a knack for embarking on surging runs from midfield and also has a host of defence-splitting passes in his repertoire, travelled with the Palace first-team for a trip to Manchester United.
Last season, he was promoted to the Eagles’ under-23 squad and was also named on the bench for Palace’s 2-1 win at Middlesbrough last September.
Injuries would go on to stunt Dreher’s progress but his stock at Selhurst Park continues to rise.
Kian Flanagan
Back in May 2008, Tottenham Hotspur raided Palace’s youth ranks to sign 16-year-old John Bostock – much to the chagrin of then-chairman Simon Jordan – and seemingly, if other parties were to get their way, Kian Flanagan could follow the same path.
The Irish attacking midfielder, who turns 18 in August, was linked with Chelsea and Arsenal in 2015 and despite signing his first professional contract at the beginning of last season, both Liverpool and those pesky Bostock-pinchers Spurs have been credited with a major interest in securing Flanagan’s services.
The Palace youngster recently picked up the club’s scholar of the season award and given the flair and exiting talent he’s already shown at youth level, perhaps the sought-after starlet could be pushed through the ranks by de Boer.
Sullay Kaikai
Many EFL fans are more than familiar with Sullay Kaikai, who has shone at almost every level he has played so far.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
During his numerous loan spells, the 21-year-old winger was named Cambridge United’s young player of the year in 2014-15, was Shrewsbury Town’s top-scorer in League One in 2015-16 and enjoyed a successful spell at Brentford – who are keen to have him back – in the Championship last season.
London-born Kaikai enjoyed a dream Palace debut back in September 2014 when he came off the bench and scored to send his side’s League Cup third-round tie with Newcastle Untied into extra-time, and he was also introduced as a substitute in the final game of last season as the Eagles lost 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
If anyone is ready to truly make their mark for Palace, it’s Kaikai.
