Crystal Palace in talks to sign ex-Barcelona starlet rated at £15m as Oliver Glasner looks to bolster his defence

Crystal Palace have opened talks over a move for Real Betis centre-back Chadi Riad.

The 20-year-old joined Betis from Barcelona last summer and has enjoyed a strong season under coach Manuel Pellegrini, making 31 appearances and attracting attention from a number of clubs across Europe.

Barcelona sold Riad for just £3million and were considering activating their buy-back option but have other priorities and are not in a position to take it up, leaving the door open for Betis to sell at a substantial profit amid Palace’s interest.

Born in Majorca, but a Morocco international, Riad is 6ft 3ins tall, athletic, quick and left-footed. Palace have been looking for that style of defender amid increasing interest in Marc Guehi, who is on Manchester United‘s radar among others.

Betis value Riad at around £15million and talks have taken place with Palace representatives in recent days as they look to strike an agreement.

Oliver Glasner recognises the squad will need strengthening if they sell some of their stars

Palace have also discussed Maxence Lacroix of Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest‘s Moussa Niakhaté for the centre back position though they are likely to be more expensive options.

Palace finished the season with a flourish under Oliver Glasner but recognise their squad will need strengthening amid growing interest in some of their star performers.

Enquiries are expected for Guehi as well as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise, who is admired by Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea among others.

Midfielder Adam Wharton, who only joined from Blackburn in January, is also admired by Bayern Munich but Palace value him highly and hope to convince him to stay.