Palace: Pundit makes Wan-Bissaka claim

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira should make a move to bring Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to the club, according to pundit Carlton Palmer.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the former England international suggested that the Manchester United man would be welcomed back at Selhurst Park, should he opt to secure a return to south London this summer.

Asked about the player potentially linking back up with the Eagles, Palmer said that: “I think they would (welcome Wan-Bissaka back). I mean, he was a fan’s favourite when he was there. We’ll have to wait and see what Ten Hag thinks about him as a football player.

Should Palace re-sign Wan-Bissaka?

“He’s a good defender, Wan-Bissaka, but he’s pretty short on dealing with the football coming out, and I’m assuming that at Manchester United, with the way that they will want to play under Ten Hag, the full-back positions will be crucial. So, it may be that Wan-Bissaka goes back to Crystal Palace, he’s still a young player, and learns more about his craft under Patrick Vieira.”

This follows recent reports that suggested that Palace are considering a move to re-sign the full-back, although there has been an inclination that he may wish to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford next term.

Welcome return

Vieira and co may have to wait and see what incoming United boss Erik ten Hag makes of the player, although should they be able to do a deal it would no doubt represent a sensible piece of business.

Having sold him on for a club-record fee of £50m in 2019, the right-back is likely to return for a much-reduced fee – amid suggestions he could be worth less than half of that original price – while a loan deal has also been mooted.

The Red Devils’ hastiness to let him go may be a marker of his struggles over the past few seasons, although that’s perhaps as much of a reflection of the overall turmoil surrounding the Theatre of Dreams than the man himself, with the Englishman not the only player to have suffered a real dip in performances.

It would seem that there is still a quality defender in there somewhere, with the £27m-rated man – who has been dubbed “top class” by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – once described as the “best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world” by pundit Jamie Carragher.

That assessment may have been made in his early stint at Carrington, although it shows the high regard he was held in following his original exit from Palace, notably averaging 3.7 tackles, 2.4 interceptions and 3.7 clearances per 90 during his final Premier League season at his former club during the 2018/19 campaign.

Equally, at still just 24, there is plenty of time left for the £83k-per-week warrior to recapture his form and finally realise his early potential, with Vieira potentially the right man to aid that progression having improved a number of youthful stars so far this term.

Most importantly, a new addition on the right side of defence is also needed, with both Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne both into their thirties, and with young Nathan Ferguson struggling for fitness since his move from West Bromwich Albion two years ago.

It may prove to be something of a shock move, although Palace must secure a deal for the United man’s return.

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