Eberechi Eze to be left out of Crystal Palace squad to face Chelsea as England star closes in on Tottenham move

EBERECHI EZE is expecting not to feature for Crystal Palace against Chelsea on Sunday as Tottenham push for his signing.

Spurs are in talks over clinching a move for the England star, and though a deal is yet to be agreed, there is optimism it can be struck soon.

As a result, sources close to Eze believe he will not play in Palace’s Premier League season-opener at Stamford Bridge.

The North Londoners are in desperate need for a new No10 with James Maddison set to miss most of the season with a serious knee injury.

Thomas Frank wanted a new playmaker even before Maddison damaged his anterior cruciate ligament against Newcastle in preseason.

Spurs came close to landing Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest before a stunning U-turn saw him sign a new contract at the City Ground.

Eze, 27, has been a long-term target for Spurs and the player is keen to join so he can realise his dream of playing Champions League football.

He scored twice against Tottenham in May the week before he struck the FA Cup final winner against Manchester City.

Spurs’ arch-rivals Arsenal have also been interested in Eze, but their interest is understood to have cooled after Ethan Nwaneri signed a new contract.

The Gunners see Eze, who can play wide left, as primarily a No. 10, where they already have Martin Odegaard and Nwaneri.