In a revealing admission, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that striker Evan Guessand is set to join Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, despite the Spanish coach's personal reluctance to see the player depart Villa Park.
Emery's Mixed Emotions Over Departure
Speaking after Aston Villa's recent Europa League fixture, Emery expressed his conflicted feelings about the impending transfer. "Something similar to Donyell Malen," he remarked, drawing a parallel to a previous departure. "I was happy with him. I didn't want him to leave, but I accept it's a good deal for the club and him."
The manager acknowledged that limited playing opportunities in recent matches, following Villa's acquisition of new attacking players, influenced Guessand's decision to seek a move elsewhere.
Structure of the Palace Agreement
The deal between the two clubs is structured as a six-month loan arrangement, with a significant £28 million option to buy attached. This clause contains appearance-related add-ons which, if met, would convert the option into a mandatory obligation for Crystal Palace to purchase the player permanently.
This mechanism gives Palace complete control over the final decision regarding a permanent transfer. Should they choose to exercise the option, Guessand has already agreed to a four-year contract with the South London club, commencing in the summer.
Medical Scheduled and Deal Comparisons
The player is scheduled to undergo a medical examination on Friday, ahead of finalising his move to Selhurst Park. Aston Villa have previously utilised a similar loan structure with an option-to-buy in their deal to bring Harvey Elliott from Liverpool, although in that instance, the required performance thresholds were not met to trigger a permanent move.
Broader Transfer Market Implications
Guessand's imminent switch to Crystal Palace has introduced uncertainty into another potential high-profile transfer. The Eagles had been poised to secure Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen in a deal worth up to £50 million, comprising £45 million upfront with £5 million in potential add-ons.
With Palace now focusing on Guessand, it remains unclear whether they will proceed with their substantial offer for Larsen, who has also attracted interest from Leeds United and Everton. Leeds had previously seen a bid of up to £39 million for the Wolves forward rejected.
Emery's candid confirmation underscores the complex balancing act managers face between squad preferences and club financial strategy, as the January transfer window draws to a close.
