Crystal Palace close in on Daichi Kamada contract renewal

Crystal Palace are closing in on a contract renewal for midfielder Daichi Kamada, according to reports.

Kamada’s contract is due to expire at the end of June after signing on a two-year deal to follow Oliver Glasner from Frankfurt to Palace.

Now, with Glasner gone, there were fears that Kamada would be tempted to depart the club this summer on a free transfer, but those worries appear to have been allayed.

Reports earlier this month suggested that Kamada was keen on remaining at Selhurst Park beyond his original deal, despite Glasner’s departure and his contract coming to an end at the same time.

Kamada and Glasner have been a match made in heaven as far as a player and manager can go.

At Frankfurt, they won the Europa League together, and then at Crystal Palace, the pair were a part of history, winning the FA Cup (a first-ever trophy for the Eagles), the Community Shield and a first-ever European trophy in the form of the Conference League.

Now Glasner has departed, but in Pierre Sage, Palace feel they have appointed a manager who can pick up where the Austrian left off and continue the south London club’s trajectory from mid-table club to one that is competing in Europe and readily finishing higher than it did last season.

To do that though, Palace could do without too many of their stars departing this summer, with Maxence Lacroix and Adam Wharton both subject to significant interest from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

And Kamada is undoubtedly one of Palace’s most important players, even if at times, his role is slightly understated.

Well, according to The Athletic, Kamada and Palace are closing in on agreement to a new contract, with the final discussions being made regarding the length of the deal.

Kamada, who has made 89 appearances for the Eagles in just two seasons has become one of the first names on the team sheet.

He has also been a hugely important member of the Japan squad at this World Cup, scoring in both of their opening matches against the Netherlands and Tunisia.

Kamada signing a new deal at Palace, would, by all accounts be a hugely important second step to the summer transfer window for Palace, having already brought in Pierre Sage to replace Glasner.

It seems too good to be true that Palace will also retain the services of Lacroix and Wharton but nonetheless, it has been a hugely productive window.