Crystal Palace re-sign Guessand on loan from Villa

What the report says

Crystal Palace have brought Evann Guessand back to Selhurst Park on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, according to Nile Post’s sourcing of the BBC Sport report. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast forward had already spent the second half of last season with Palace, and the move returns him to the club where he featured during a successful spring run.

Guessand joined Villa in August last year in a transfer reported at £26 million, but his first season at Villa Park was mixed. He scored two goals in 21 appearances across all competitions before moving to Palace in January. While at Palace, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-0 win over Wolves and appeared in the club’s Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano.

The report says Villa and Palace differ slightly in how the transfer is structured: Villa describe it as a conditional obligation to buy, while Palace call it an option to buy. Guessand also received a Europa League winner’s medal after appearing for Villa earlier in the campaign before Unai Emery’s side went on to win the competition.

The deal gives Palace another attacking option as they prepare for the new season, while Villa reduce immediate squad uncertainty around a player who returned to pre-season after Palace did not activate an earlier purchase option.