Frank de Boer wants young Manchester United star Timothy Fosu-Mensah to team up with him again at Crystal Palace
Eagles boss was his former Ajax protege on loan and will then ditch a move for Arsenal's Calum Chambers
FRANK DE BOER wants Manchester United’s versatile teenager Timothy Fosu-Mensah to team up with him again at Crystal Palace.
As a result the Eagles’ £20million swoop for Arsenal’s Calum Chambers has been put on ice.
SunSport understands Palace have been working hard behind the scenes and have now agreed a fee of around £20million, including add-ons, for the Gunners’ 22-year-old England international.
However De Boer won’t sign-off the deal until he finds out if Manchester United are willing to let them have his former Ajax protege Fosu-Mensah on loan.
Watford were thought to be front-runners to land the 19-year-old Reds defender but the Palace boss has one major trump card to play.
De Boer was the youngster’s manager at Amsterdam Arena during his formative years and he hopes that will appeal to Jose Mourinho, who wants the Dutch kid to get more Premier League games under his belt.
The Eagles manager wants a right-sided defender for his favoured 3-4-3 formation to team up with Scott Dann and summer signing from Ajax Jairo Riedewald.
De Boer failed to land his first-choice target Mamadou Sakho when Liverpool refused to sanction a second loan deal and demanded £30million for the 27-year-old Frenchman.
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That was too rich for Palace who have this week agreed a fee with Arsenal for Chambers, who played 24 games on loan at Middlesbrough last season.
However Chambers’ proposed move to Palace could yet hit the skids if De Boer beats Watford boss Marco Silva to snap up Fosu-Mensah on loan, leaving the Eagles' boss with £20million to spend elsewhere.