Eze’s Rise Puts Palace Contract Situation in Focus | OneFootball

Tuchel’s First Impressions Spark Eze Evaluation

When England’s new head coach travelled to Selhurst Park in March, it was not for spectacle but assessment. Among those under close scrutiny was Eberechi Eze, the Crystal Palace midfielder whose numbers, at the time, were modest when compared to other elite options in England’s deep midfield pool.

Despite not delivering a standout performance in the narrow win over Ipswich, Eze left a lasting impression. His contribution wasn’t statistical but behavioural. Tuchel observed his communication with teammates, his body language, and the way he handled mistakes. “Eze’s demeanour was exactly what Tuchel is looking for in his World Cup winning building blocks,” sources familiar with the discussions noted.

He earned a call-up soon after, and the impact has been transformative.

Form Surge Highlights Potential and Maturity

Following his England debut against Latvia, Eze’s form has soared. That match saw him score his first goal in nearly three months, marking the beginning of a remarkable scoring run—10 goals in 14 matches, including the FA Cup final winner with Tuchel watching from the Wembley stands.

Before March, Eze’s league return stood at two goals from 83 shots—an underwhelming 2.4% conversion rate. Post-call-up, he has converted 31.6% of his chances, a rate eclipsed by only one other player across Europe’s top divisions.

“He’s flying,” Tuchel said after announcing his most recent squad. “I feel more hunger, more determination to score, to be decisive. He did fantastic. The quality he showed in training was outstanding and I’m happy that he could prove it after camp, and even step up his level.”

Contract Clause Attracting Summer Attention

Eze’s rise has not gone unnoticed. His contract at Palace includes a release clause of £60 million, with a further £8 million in potential add-ons. That clause becomes active again this summer, putting clubs on alert for a potential move.

Palace, who acquired Eze from Queens Park Rangers for £19.5 million in 2020, have seen the midfielder’s valuation surge significantly since. His profile has grown not only because of club form but also through his seamless integration into Tuchel’s vision for England’s future.

Unpredictable on the pitch and elusive to defend against, Eze’s game defies easy categorisation. A former QPR coach once described him as someone who “can turn a dour moment into a magical moment with one movement of his body.” At QPR, he earned the nickname “Drunken Master” for his unique movement and deceptive agility.

England Role Cements Elite Standing

Tuchel’s vision for his World Cup squad is built not just on talent but harmony and fit. That Eze is now spoken of in the same context as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden is telling. “We have offensive midfielders who almost play as strikers,” Tuchel said. “If I see Jude moving into the box, the hunger that he has to score. He almost behaves as a striker. Phil is normally for me a half nine, half ten-ish player. Ebbs scores a lot lately.”

It’s a notable shift in perception. Where once he was considered an outsider, Eze is now firmly in the conversation. For Palace, it poses a challenge: how to retain a player whose ceiling is rapidly rising—and whose contract status may offer an exit route to potential suitors in a pivotal summer.