The name Randy Nteka might not mean a lot to you, but the 24-year-old has caught the attention of Crystal Palace with his performances at Rayo Vallecano this season.
That’s according to L’Equipe, who recall the player was close to joining Valencia last summer before heading to his current club, signing a contract until 2026.
Originally a box-to-box midfielder, the player has been played a bit more up the pitch in Spain, even as a striker at times, scoring three goals so far this season, as well as picking up two assists.
This versatility hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the newspaper saying he is now ‘targeted by handful of Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace and one in the top half of the table’, as well as two clubs in Bundesliga (Hoffenheim and another unnamed side).
‘Talks are underway’ between teams, but Vallecano ‘aren’t looking to let him go in the short-term’, meaning January.
In the summer, however, ‘everything seems open’ for the player to leave, who has himself set his sights on ‘go up a level’ next year.
Whether Crystal Palace will still be interested then remains to be seen, but they are now, and Patrick Vieira’s side will need to be convincing to change Vallecano’s mind for a January move, it seems.
