Crystal Palace are reportedly set to rival Brighton and Hove Albion for the signing of £25m-rated Polish midfielder Bartosz Mazurek from Red Bull Salzburg.
According to transfer outlet TEAMtalk, Palace have overtaken their biggest rivals Brighton in the race for the Poland international, who is also of interest to a number of major European clubs.
The 19-year-old only joined Salzburg from Jagiellonia Bialystok for €6 million in the summer, but his early season form has drawn the attention of clubs across the continent.
Having played 23 times across all competitions so far this campaign, Mazurek has already notched two goals and six assists for the Austrian outfit.
Such has been his recent form, Mazurek has recently earned himself his first senior international call-up, having been named in Poland's squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The 19-year-old has long made clear of his intention to play in the Premier League, previously stating that "England is the highest level you can reach", though he has also stated that his dream is to play for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Having joined the race for Mazurek's signature, Palace and Brighton also face a battle against Portuguese side Porto, with the Primeira Liga outfit said to have already spoken with his representatives.
According to the recent reports, Porto held an interest in the Polish midfielder before his move to the Austrian Bundesliga and see him as a strong fit for the club.
Various reports have also stated that both Borussia Dortmund and Benfica hold an interest in the 19-year-old, as he begins to earn a reputation as one of Europe's most sought after prospects.
It remains to be seen whether Crystal Palace will turn their interest into a serious bid for the Polish midfielder, but it is clear that he is set to be the subject of a transfer tug of war in 2027.
