Derby County Starlet Rejects Man United Offer In Favour Of Crystal Palace Move

Erik ten Hag is set to be dealt the latest blow to his summer transfer plans, with Derby County youngster Malcolm Ebiowei to reject Manchester United.

It has not been an easy summer for Ten Hag already, having taken over as the new United manager at the end of last season in order to get a jump on the ton of work he has to do to improve the side.

The club are hell bent on signing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona but, with that transfer taking an age to get sorted, they are falling further behind their rivals.

No incomings have come through the door at Old Trafford yet, with the club missing out on signing Darwin Nunez thanks to a mix up over a meeting.

And now there's a further blow as 18-year-old Ebiowei is set to turn down a move to Derby manager Wayne Rooney's former club and instead choose Crystal Palace.

"English talent Malcolm Ebiowei won’t join Manchester United. He’s set to sign his contract with Crystal Palace after medicals completed this week, it’s a done deal," Fabrizio Romano said.

"Ebiowei will leave Derby County to join Palace - contract will be valid until June 2027."

Ebiowei celebrates his goal against Blackpool. Image: Alamy

The teenager was let go from the Arsenal youth team in 2019 and from Rangers two years later but impressed last season for Derby, as they failed to battle against relegation.

Ebiowei only made his debut for the Rams in February this year but went on to play 15 times for Rooney's team and scored his first senior goal against Blackpool.

The winger has played at youth level for both Netherlands, at under 15s level, and England, for the under 16s, and could still play for either at senior level in the future.

For Palace it continues an impressive run of signing young players from the Championship, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in the past two summers.

Olise and Eze have impressed for Palace. Image: Alamy

Along with the De Jong and Nunez transfers, United have also been linked with a move to sign Christian Eriksen, after the midfielder's contract at Brentford expired.

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique mocked his ex club's rivals for missing out on Eriksen, despite the fact that nothing has been made official.

The players that the club seem to be after continues to ignore the fact the team are in desperate need of a defensive midfielder, which is why the move for Eriksen has been rubbished.

Ten Hag is also in the market for a centre back, after the continued poor form of Harry Maguire, who is expected to lose the captaincy ahead of the next campaign.