Crystal Palace ‘pressing hard’ for Tiago Gabriel as Jorge Mendes works on transfer

Crystal Palace are reportedly ‘pressing hard’ to sign Lecce centre-back Tiago Gabriel, with Jorge Mendes actively working to secure a transfer for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

Gabriel has enjoyed a remarkable rise since joining Lecce for around €1m in January 2025, developing into one of Serie A's most promising young defenders.

West Ham have previously made an unsuccessful offer, while AC Milan are also interested. Palace have now emerged as serious contenders and appear determined to take advantage of the situation.

According to Sportmediaset, Palace are pushing strongly to complete a deal for the Portuguese defender.

Lecce have previously valued Gabriel at around €40m, although the latest reports suggest their demands could now be more accessible.

That could encourage Palace to make their move, particularly given their need for another natural centre-back.

AC Milan are also monitoring Gabriel and have been presented with the opportunity to sign him by Mendes.

The super-agent was reportedly in Milan on Wednesday discussing several transfer matters and made Gabriel's availability known to the Rossoneri.

Mendes could play an important role in determining Gabriel's next destination.

PianetaLecce reports that the agent has established contact with Milan regarding the defender as he works to find a suitable new club.

Benfica had previously represented another possible destination, but the Portuguese giants have now signed Alessandro Circati from Parma.

That removes one potential rival and could improve Palace's chances of completing the transfer.

The Eagles will still have to overcome Milan's interest and reach an agreement with Lecce, but their willingness to push hard puts them firmly in the race.

Palace's interest makes sense given the current composition of Pierre Sage's defence.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has arrived, but his recent injury record means Palace may be reluctant to rely too heavily on him across an entire season.

Jaydee Canvot and Chris Richards are currently the other recognised centre-back options, while Oscar Mingueza provides versatility across several defensive positions.

Adding Gabriel would give Sage another specialist centre-back while also fitting Palace's established recruitment strategy.

At just 21, Gabriel offers immediate first-team potential while retaining considerable room for development. His rapid rise from a €1m signing to a player attracting Premier League and Serie A interest also demonstrates how quickly his reputation has grown.

Palace must now determine whether Lecce's valuation has fallen enough to make a deal achievable.

With Mendes actively working on Gabriel's future and Benfica seemingly out of the race, the Eagles have an opportunity to move quickly. Milan remain a threat, but Palace's strong interest could put them in an excellent position if they turn that interest into a concrete offer.

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