This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
When Crystal Palace Sporting Director Dougie Freedman sanctioned the two-year loan departure of Alexander Sorloth back in the summer to Turkish side Trabzonspor, he may have made a slight mistake during negotiations – albeit, in fairness, unbeknown to him at the time.
The Norway international striker had scored just one goal in 20 appearances for the Eagles following a £9m move from FC Midtjylland back in 2018, and after a string of lumbering performances in attack, few eyebrows were raised when Sorloth was shipped out.
Freedman’s mistake? Well, The Athletic reveal that there is a €6m (£5m) obligation for Trabzonspor to purchase the 24-year-old at the end of his two-year loan, and following a turn of expected events, that sum may now be looking like a bargain for the Super Lig side.
“But transfer fees were apparently an issue, meaning Palace negotiated a 24-month loan, with associated fees, and a purchase obligation set at €6 million in January 2021, by which time Trabzonspor, already cleared to compete in the Europa League, expect to have restructured their debt, implemented new financial monitoring regulations and met UEFA’s targets.”
Sorloth has been on fire this season. The 6 foot 3 hitman has netted 12 goals already this term in just 23 appearances, while also grabbing four assists.
Compare that to his wretched time at Selhurst Park, in which – as aforesaid – he scored just one goal in 20 appearances, with that strike coming in unspectacular fashion in the form of a Carabao Cup game against Swansea, and you’re looking at a completely different player.
So, to see the same man tear it up over in Turkey is presumably very unexpected on Palace’s behalf.
As the saying goes, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and when Freedman shook hands on a €6m (£5m) obligation for Trabzonspor to purchase Sorloth, he probably didn’t think twice about that sum turning out to be a bargain for the Turkish side, which is now looking to be the case.
Given his excellent goalscoring form, one assumes that the south Londoners probably would’ve been able to get more than a measly £5m for a striker who is still fairly young, as well as one who is playing and having an impact in Europa League football and also boasts six goals in 22 caps for the Norway national team.
However, the deed is done – Freedman doesn’t deserve any blame for setting such a low obligation to buy price, for Sorloth really didn’t set the world alight in south London, although the forward’s unexpected form is making that figure look like nothing.
In other news, this Crystal Palace target was his side’s biggest goal threat in a recent Champions League outing against a European giant…
