Crystal Palace Close In on Zavier Gozo While Holding Firm on Adam Wharton

What happened:

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Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of United States youth international Zavier Gozo, according to The Guardian, as new manager Pierre Sage looks to strengthen before the new season. Gozo, 19, plays for Real Salt Lake in MLS and has represented the United States at youth levels up to Under-23. He is expected to complete an £11m move to south London after being left out of Real Salt Lake’s game on Tuesday night because of an “excused absence.”

The move is not framed as a completed signing yet, but the signals are advanced. Palace have tracked Gozo for some time and view him as a potential successor to Daniel Muñoz at right wing-back. The source also notes a club connection: Real Salt Lake are part-owned by David Blitzer, who is one of Palace’s co-owners.

Why it matters:

Palace’s squad need is specific. Nathaniel Clyne has departed at the end of his contract, and Danny Imray was sold to Wrexham last week for a fee thought to be around £5m. That leaves Palace needing cover and succession planning on the right side. Gozo’s profile, age, and expected fee suggest this is not merely emergency depth; Palace appear to be buying a player they believe can grow into a role.

Tournament impact:

For Palace, the immediate Premier League impact depends on how quickly Gozo adapts if the transfer is completed. The club are trying to add options before competitive rhythm sets in, and right wing-back depth matters in a long league season where suspensions, fatigue, and tactical rotation can turn a thin position into a weekly problem. The source does not confirm whether Gozo would start immediately, so the firmer takeaway is structural: Palace are addressing a roster gap created by departures.

The other important thread is Adam Wharton. The headline says Palace are standing firm on the England midfielder, while the story summary says the club are determined to keep him. That matters because keeping central quality while adding young wide depth would be a very different window from one built around replacing a key player. No bid value, buying club, or detailed negotiation state for Wharton is supplied here, so the stance should be read as Palace’s current position rather than a closed market outcome.

What to watch:

The next useful markers are formal confirmation of Gozo’s transfer, his squad registration, and how Sage uses him in early team selections. For Wharton, watch whether Palace’s public and private position holds if stronger interest arrives later in the window. Chelsea’s reported progress on Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano is a separate market note, not a Palace squad decision.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Palace are closing in on Gozo, the expected fee is £11m, he missed Real Salt Lake’s Tuesday game with an “excused absence,” and Palace want to keep Wharton. Still needing follow-up: final Gozo paperwork, contract details, exact Wharton interest, and Palace’s opening-week role for the new signing.