Steve Parish surprised by low interest in Eberechi Eze transfer

Steve Parish, the chairman of Crystal Palace, expressed his surprise at the lack of transfer interest in midfielder Eberechi Eze during the recent transfer window. Despite concerns about losing both Eze and Michael Olise, who was sold to Bayern Munich for £50 million, Eze remained at the club. Parish noted that he expected more interest in Eze, stating he was 'astounded' by the situation. In contrast, there was significant interest in defender Marc Guehi, with Newcastle making multiple bids, the highest reaching £65 million. Parish had anticipated Guehi would leave, especially after the unexpected transfer of Joachim Andersen to Fulham and an injury to new signing Chadi Riad, which left the squad thin. Parish acknowledged the challenges of retaining top talent, emphasizing the club's pride in Olise's move to a top club and their aspirations to compete at higher levels. He recognized that players often seek opportunities to play in the Champions League, which may lead them to view Crystal Palace as a stepping stone in their careers. Ultimately, Parish's comments reflect the balancing act clubs face in managing player transfers while striving to maintain competitive squads. The situation highlights the complexities of the transfer market and the realities of player ambitions in modern football.