Highly-rated winger Malcolm Ebiowei is said to have rejected personal advances from Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag and Steve McClaren in order to sign for Crystal Palace.
The 18-year-old is leaving Derby County and is expected to be unveiled as the Eagles’ first signing of the 2022 summer transfer window shortly.
Ebiowei was courted by several of England’s top sides after breaking into Derby’s first-team during the 2021/22 campaign, and The Sun report that Man Utd were trying to secure a deal to the bitter end.
He initially received phone calls from United assistant coach McClaren, who recently spent time at Derby as their technical director. Ten Hag himself then messaged the player to try and convince him to head to Old Trafford instead, but did not receive a reply.
Palace were determined to secure Ebiowei’s signature and sporting director Dougie Freedman even drove the winger to the club’s London headquarters to thrash out the workings of a deal following three recent meetings.
While Ebiowei appears to have slipped away from Manchester United, 90min understands the club remain in talks to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona and Antony from Ajax.
Brazil forward Antony, who is a left-footed winger tat plays from the right, missed Ajax’s first day of pre-season earlier this week, though new Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder recently insisted he wants to keep the 22-year-old in Amsterdam.
