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Crystal Palace make contact to sign winger with £12m release clause after Liverpool reject Ben Doak bid

Billy Meyers

Tue 7 January 2025 9:45, UK

Crystal Palace are keen to sign a new winger this month.

Earlier in the January transfer window, Crystal Palace saw a £15m bid rejected for Ben Doak by Liverpool, with Ipswich Tow൲n also keen on the Scotland international shining on loan at Middlesbrough.

TBR Football understand Crystal Palace are set to make another𒀰 bid for Doak – worth at least £20m – although Ipswich Town are also ready to submit a second off𒁏er.

As this situation rumbles on, Crystal Palace have – 🐽interestingly – now made an approach to sign Romain Esse from Millwall.

Crystal Palace make contact with Millwall regarding Romain Esse

Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the Eagles have been in touch with their so�🤡�uth London rivals to ask about the England U20 international.

The reliable Italian journalist wrote: “Crystal Palace have made an approach to sign Romain Esse as one of t༺he players high on their l🐼ist. Not an easy deal for January but Millwall gem is appreciated by Palace.”

Like Doak, the Millwa🎀ll No.25 often starts on the right fla🐼nk, cutting inside on his stronger left foot to devastating effect, just as Michael Olise did at Selhurst Park before joining Bayern Munich last summer.

TBR Football understand Millwall🅠 would prefer to keep Esse at The D🧔en this month.

Dougie Freedman could sign Romain Esse for £12m

Olise was signed from Read🍒ing for just £8m back in July 2021 thanks to a release clause written into his contract.

Dougie Freedman – Director of Football at Crystal Palace – could use that same method to sign Esse, as the clai♊m the teenager has a £12m release clause in his terms at Mil🤪lwall.

Liverpool are believed to want £25m for Doak, so 🦹this would be𒐪 a considerably cheaper deal for the Eagles to pursue.

Esse – who plays like Bukayo Saka – may presumably♊ be open to joining Crys🌱tal Palace this month too, given the fact he is already based in south London.

Whatev𒁃er happens, Freedman clearly isn’t just putting all of his eggs int🦂o the Doak basket.