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Crystal Palace beating Brighton to sign this young Europa League star would be a coup

Why Crystal Palace signing Dominik Greif could be a smart move

According to Football Insider (h/t Daily Mail), Premier League teams Crystal Palace and Brighton are interested in the signing of Slovakian goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

The youngster was scouted by representatives from both sides last week at the Molineux stadium where he played against Wolves in a Europa League encounter.

Though Slovan Bratislava lost 1-0, Greif’s performances were impressive. He made a number of fine saves including the one which kept out Ruben Neves’ penalty. Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, being a former goalkeeper, was in high praise of Greif for his stunning display.

Dominik Greif
Dominik Greif

The 22-year- made his way to the Bratislava team after his fine display for the club’s U19 team and is highly regarded as on the best young goalkeepers across Europe.

This season, he already has 10 clean sheets to his name in the 23 games he has played in all competitions so far. Grief also earned a place in the Slovakian national team this season, making his debut against Jordan in an International Friendly.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have Spaniard Vincente Guaita as their first choice in goal and Wayne Hennessey as a backup for him. Guaita has played 10 games so far and has kept only 3 clean sheets, while Hennessey, in his 2 games, has no clean sheets.

Roy Hodgson has to ponder upon the services of his goalkeepers as they are ageing, and a replacement for them is needed. In order to strengthen this position, the Eagles would be better off signing Dominik Greif.

Dominik Greif
Dominik Greif

Stephen Henderson was brought in the summer to add depth to the squad in this position but hasn’t featured in any games while Dion Henry has been used for their youth team this season. This may be a concern for the Eagles manager and bringing in the Slovakian would be good for the team.

A tall and powerfull goalkeeper, Dominik Greif has a strong command of the area and his positioning qualities could be eye-catching.

Coming into the Premier League may not be an easy task for him, but his steady development can help the team in future. His passion and young blood can surely see him getting his chances at Selhurst Park on a regular basis.

He can also be a very useful option for the club’s reserves team too since he is young and energetic.

Dominik Greif
Dominik Greif

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Verdict

That being said, Roy Hodgson must take his chances and let the youngster join their goalkeeping ranks. But it may not be easy for Palace to bring him as he is being monitored by Brighton too.

Dominik Greif’s move to Selhurst Park could be a success. However, it all depends on whether he can adapt to the conditions in the top-flight of English football.