Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign American wing-back Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.An agreement is yet to be reached, but talks are advanced and are trending in a positive way, sources say. Any deal is expected to be in the range of $15million (£11.1m), sources add. Gozo has made it clear he’s ready to move to Europe this summer after a breakout season.Crystal Palace have emerged as the favourite to sign the 19-year-old, but the Premier League side are not the only club that want him. Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid pushed in January, sources say, while other European clubs have been priced out by RSL’s asking price and interest in England, sources add.Gozo has six goals and five assists for RSL in 16 games this season playing as a wingback, after initially breaking through as a winger. He has added quality in the final third to his game that already featured elite athleticism and dribbling ability.Gozo is a strong candidate to earn his senior U.S. national team debut this fall, as he narrowly missed out on a late push to make the 2026 World Cup squad. He has been a regular on youth national teams.Real Salt Lake, which sits fifth in MLS’s Western Conference, hoped to keep Gozo for the rest of the season, but with bids intensifying from various suitors coupled with Gozo’s own wishes, the club is open to an immediate move, and that appears to be the most likely outcome.Crystal Palace named Pierre Sage its new head coach this summer after Oliver Glasner’s glittering stint with the club came to an end, following a UEFA Conference League final triumph over Rayo Vallecano that qualified the club for a place in this season’s UEFA Europa League. Glasner has since moved to Nottingham Forest. Palace previously ended its 70-year trophy drought with an FA Cup title in 2025.Fellow American Chris Richards remains a key player for Palace, which kicks off its season on August 22 against Everton.AnalysisAnalysis by Matt WoosnamThis is a move more in keeping with Palace’s plans to recruit younger talent and develop them.If completed, it will be their first outlay of the summer and second signing, having brought in wing-back Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer after his Celta Vigo contract expired.Palace may utilise Gozo in a forward position where he broke through and where they lacked depth last season, greatly missing player of the year Ismaila Sarr while he was away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, and with January signing Brennan Johnson struggling to produce any sort of form.They have not yet replaced either Christantus Uche or Evan Guessand, last season’s loanees in the forward positions.Daniel Munoz is Palace’s starting right-wing back (Matt McNulty via Getty Images)Gozo would help to relieve some of that pressure in the No 10 role and would be available as a possible rotation option for Sage to call upon with Palace playing a minimum of eight Europa League matches this season.They are well stocked now at right wing-back with Daniel Munoz first choice and Mingueza as cover and competition, and at 19 it would be a significant responsibility to fill the role in the Premier League.The Athletic reported on Monday that Club Brugge are in advanced talks to sign Romain Esse, while there could be further departures of fringe players with midfielder David Ozoh attracting interest for a permanent move.Palace remain keen to sign two centre-backs — a more established player and potentially a younger one — after the sale of Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea for £52m ($69.9m), with former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu involved with the squad during the Como Cup. They are also looking to sign a midfielder.Aug 4, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms