Crystal Palace eye Charlie Hughes as Guehi substitute

Crystal Palace are starting at life with out their captain Marc Guehi after he finalised his transfer to Manchester Metropolis. The Eagles are reported to have eyed up their substitute in Hull Metropolis’s Charlie Hughes, in keeping with Soccer Insider.

The star defender has been topic to switch hypothesis all window, with fellow Championship aspect Middlesbrough enquiring about Hughes at first of the month. Curiosity might now ramp up with Premier League aspect Palace seeing Hughes because the long-term way forward for their backline.

Stories state that the Eagles have been scouting 22-year-old Hughes for a while, together with planning a transfer in the summertime, no matter Guehi’s exit. Hughes inventory continues to rise, and this curiosity doesn’t look more likely to go away.

Hull Metropolis boss Sergej Jakirovic can be doing his utmost to not lose his star defender at any price, particularly with HCAFC hoping to be within the promotion dialog this season.

Charlie Hughes’ spectacular trajectory

Hughes has been on a formidable rise since bursting onto the scene with Wigan Athletic. Developing by the Latics’ academy, he made his senior debut for the membership in 2021, earlier than incomes his beginning place within the following season.

It wasn’t till 2023/24 when he started to catch the attention of Championship groups. That season, Hughes featured 51 instances for Wigan, being one of many membership’s star performers alongside fellow academy graduate Sam Tickle.

Charlie Hughes 2023/24 Wigan Athletic stats

The step up got here a yr later, and Hughes joined Hull Metropolis. Since then, the one factor stopping the defender being one of many first names on the crew sheet has been accidents. When wholesome, Hughes has carried out strongly in a HCAFC shirt and is essential a part of the crew that’s pushing for promotion this yr.

At 22, Hughes has luggage of potential, and appears destined for the Premier League in some unspecified time in the future, with or with out Hull Metropolis.

Hull Metropolis’s unlikely promotion hunt

After Ruben Selles stored Hull Metropolis within the Championship final season, the membership selected to have one more summer season of change. Sergej Jakirovic changed Selles and most anticipated HCAFC to flirt with relegation as soon as once more amid monetary points.

As an alternative the membership have constructed a robust core, and recruited nicely, with Oli McBurnie main the road and Joe Gelhardt returning in roaring trend. Hull are firmly within the play-off image and have a crew that always struggles defensively, however retains discovering methods to win.

Jakirovic has breathed new life right into a aspect that seemed set for an additional yr of turmoil. Hull Metropolis now have a bunch that would genuinely problem promotion, and the membership can be decided to maintain it collectively.