Crystal Palace have stapled themselves into the fabric of the Premier League since their promotion a decade ago, surviving in the top flight by recruiting astutely for youngsters while their factory-like production of star-studded talent has saved the club millions.
Two clear examples of their ability to churn out talent is the emergence of Gareth Southgate and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in South London, although their impact for the Eagles is blown out water by departing Palace legend Wilfried Zaha, who left an untouchable legacy behind having made 458 appearances across an 18-year association.
Naturally, discovering the next young talent, whether that’s through meticulously cherry-picking from their academy or scouring leagues across the world, hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Eagles
The London-based outfit have been linked with interest in a number of talented gems over the years, only to watch their stock and value soar with another club.
One example of this is Alphonso Davies, with the Canadian rising to stardom as one of the best left-backs in the world since slipping through the Eagles’ grasp in 2016.
Bayern Munich may have snapped up Alphonso Davies from Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019, however, GOAL once reported that Crystal Palace came very close to signing him three years earlier.
While this seems extraordinary now, the 22-year-old was brought to the attention of Palace chairman Steve Parish after receiving a tip from his sister but their deal to sign him fell at the final hurdle as Davies failed his work permit