Crystal Palace check in on Moustapha Mbow to shore up defence

The Crystal Palace of Pierre Sage hasn’t had a good start: they suffered a home defeat and have gone on to lose two of their first two matches, with six goals conceded already. With the back line under scrutiny, the club’s leadership has been looking for defensive reinforcements.

Interest in the defence

As L’Équipe writes, Crystal Palace have gathered information in the last few hours on Moustapha Mbow, the 26-year-old Senegalese centre-back at Paris FC. The article says he’s under contract in Paris for another two years.

The “not for sale” stance

Mbow has previously hinted he’d like a challenge in the Premier League. But until now, Paris FC’s management insisted he was not transferable: their sporting director Marco Neppe said so a few days earlier, in remarks reported by L’Équipe. The piece also adds that negotiations had been ongoing recently over a contract extension—so it remains unclear whether Crystal Palace’s move changes that position.

Sunday match context

For now, the article suggests Mbow is unlikely to start this Sunday’s home game against Nice (kick-off at 15:00). The next question is whether Palace’s information-gathering turns into formal talks, and what Paris FC decides if offers appear.