As reported on The72 yesterday, Middlesbrough are interested in pursuing a deal for Crystal Palace outcast Jairo Reidewald.
However, reports by The Independent suggest the Crystal Palace defender would prefer a move to Spain over dropping down into the Championship with Middlesbrough.
The Teesside club face competition from La Liga side Celta Vigo, which now looks to be the most likely destination for the Netherlands international. Crystal Palace are not going to stand in the way of the move, which will get Reidewald’s career back on track.
The versatile defender signed for the Premier League club from Ajax in the summer window of 2017 for a fee of £7.9 million, but he has only gone on to play 12 times in the top flight in two and a half years at the club. The defender looks to have been given a chance to resurrect his career, and to reignite hopes of making the international team again after three appearances back in 2015.
Naturally a central defender, the Dutchman is also very versatile and although only 22, he has been deployed at both left-back and central midfield throughout his relatively short career in football.
There is also reported interest from both France and his native Netherlands, which could pose a hurdle in Middlesbrough’s hopes of making Reidewald their second signing of the window. Huddersfield’s Rajiv van La Parra joined Boro earlier this month on a short-term loan, and manager Tony Pulis has made no secret he is looking to add to his squad before the January 31st deadline.
