Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for 18-year-old Chelsea starlet

As per South London Press (h/t Football London), Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for young Chelsea defender Lewis Hall during the ongoing summer transfer window.

After playing at left-back and central midfield under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard last season, Hall’s game time was restricted in the pre-season under Mauricio Pochettino because of Ian Maatsen’s success at left-back.

Hall is likely to sign a new contract with Chelsea before possibly moving out on loan. Palace are eyeing a temporary move for the 18-year-old ahead of the start of the season. The Eagles have struggled to get players in this summer. Hence, getting Hall would be nice for them on two fronts as the youngster can play both as a left-back and a midfielder.

We have had a good recent history of young Chelsea players going on loan to Palace and doing well there. Conor Gallagher is the latest example when he starred for the south London side during the 2021/22 season before coming back to Stamford Bridge.

Hall is a talented player who should do well at Selhurst Park if given an adequate amount of opportunities by Roy Hodgson. The England U19 international hasn’t been out on loan since starting as a youth player at Chelsea three years ago.

So, if Palace manage to complete this move, it should be a welcome change for the defender. He can play more in the coming season which would be great for his overall development as a player.

The good thing about this move is that the Eagles are in the Premier League. Hence, Chelsea can have a close look at him and understand that any performance he is putting up is done in the same division as them.

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Crystal Palace are ‘working on a loan deal’ for Lewis Hall following his breakthrough campaign with Chelsea last season.

Hall made his Premier League last November and would go onto make 11 appearances for the Blues during the 2022/23 campaign.

In a horrific season, the 18-year-old was a rare bright spot for Chelsea, impressing whenever he played and eventually winning the club’s Academy Player of the Year award.

Over the summer, his contract was extended to 2026 but with strong competition from Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella, the left-back’s short-term future is expected to be away from Stamford Bridge.

Palace have had an interest in signing Hall, who can also play in midfield, since back in May, with cover needed for Tyrick Mitchell – the only natural left-back at Selhurst Park.

That need has exemplified in recent weeks after Mitchell was injured in pre-season and the 23-year-old now faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the new campaign.

As a result, the South London Press report that the Eagles are in talks with Chelsea over bringing Hall in on loan but not before the teenager pens a new deal with his boyhood club.

The Blues are keen to tie down their brightest and best young talents, recently agreeing new a long-term contract with star defender Levi Colwill.

Palace have had great success with loanees from Chelsea in the past, namely Conor Gallagher, Michy Batshuayi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

So far this summer, the South Londoners have bought in just one player – Jefferson Lerma – leading to Roy Hodgson to publicly demand more signings.

Matheus Franca is set to join from Flamengo, while The Telegraph report that they are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen for Odilon Kossounou who is wanted on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.

Capable of playing as a centre-back and right-back, the Ivory Coast international could be viewed as either Joel Ward’s successor or a potential replacement for either Marc Guehi or Joachim Andersen.

Both centre-backs have been linked with a move, especially Guehi who is attracting interest from former club Chelsea as well as Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.