CRYSTAL Palace are continuing negotiations to sign centre-back Chadi Riad from La Liga side Real Betis.
Riad, who turns 20 next month, initially joined Betis on loan from Barcelona last summer before the Heliopolitans paid the €3million purchase option in the agreement.
The Morocco international has made 30 appearances in all competitions for former Manchester City and West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season. Betis have one match left in La Liga and will finish seventh, securing a Conference League play-off place for next season.
Reports in Spain say that Betis want €16million (£13.7) for Riad, with Barca due around 50 per cent of any profit made from the sale.
Betis were negotiating the sale of the left-footed defender to the Saudi Pro League, but Palace are now his likely destination.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace finished the season in stunning form to clinch a top-half finish on the final day with their 5-0 thumping of Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles won six of their last seven games, drawing the other, but could face a summer rebuild.
Defender Marc Guehi has been linked with a move away, while some of the Premier League big guns are interested in star attackers Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.
