How Crystal Palace are planning for life after Marc Guehi - action taken involving Middlesbrough star | OneFootball

The Eagles haven't forgotten about Boro's talented young defender.

Crystal Palace have been sending scouts to watch Middlesbrough's Rav van den Berg at the Under-21 European championships, as the Eagles plan for life after Marc Guehi.

It's understood that Guehi would be very keen to join Liverpool this summer, but is also not in any rush to force through a move.

The 24-year-old England international has just 12 months remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, but it's reported that he's willing to let his deal run down, and leave the club as a free agent next summer.

Crystal Palace keeping tabs on Middlesbrough's Rav van den Berg as potential Marc Guehi replacement

This is where Middlesbrough and Van den Berg come into the equation.

Palace have been tracking Boro's central defender for some time, with a report from Football Insider back in November last year claiming the Eagles were preparing a move for him.

That same report also revealed that Palace had been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old practically ever since he signed with the Teessiders in the summer of 2023.

Indeed, journalist Alan Nixon also revealed in February that the newly crowned FA Cup winners had turned their attentions to both Maxime Esteve of Burnley, and Van den Berg once again as potential long-term Guehi replacements.

Now it appears that Oliver Glasner has once again circled Van den Berg's name, as a report from The Northern Echo on Thursday has revealed that Palace have been sending scouts to watch the Dutchman in action at the Under-21 European championships.

His tournament came to a close on Wednesday, however, as England defeated the Netherlands in the semi-final 2-1, with his Middlesbrough teammate Hayden Hackney coming off the bench to assist Harvey Elliot for the Three Lions' late winner.

However, The Northern Echo also claim that the Eagles have a number of targets on their shortlist, including Van den Berg, with Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande understood to be their top target.

Van den Berg has left the door ajar for a Middlesbrough exit this summer - Palace will take confidence from his words

Van den Berg has always had top clubs chasing his signature, so news of Palace's interest won't immediately send shivers down the spines of Middlesbrough's hierarchy.

Indeed, Boro fended off competition from the likes of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Juventus and Ajax to capture his signature, whilst Spurs have also been heavily linked with a move for him during his time on Teesside.

However, what Van den Berg has never done is talk openly and admit to the possibility of him seeking a move away from Middlesbrough, or that was until recently.

Speaking in a recent interview with Dutch news outlet De Stentor via Teesside Live, he said: "I still support the decision to go to Middlesbrough.

"The city may not be the most beautiful in England and I don't like fish and chips. But it has been good for my development, because I have played a lot.

“My brother Sepp took a different path by transferring to Liverpool, a big club. But he has done very well in a roundabout way, he now plays almost everything at Brentford.

"That is also important to me and decisive in a choice, I want playing time. I did tell my agent that he should only call if a club is very serious. Did he call after that? Yes. But I can't say anything more about it."

So, having reaffirmed his content at Middlesbrough, but also confirmed that he has fielded transfer interest from other clubs, Van den Berg certainly would appear to have one eye on a future away from Teesside.

Therefore, should Palace table a lucrative offer for him this summer, it would seem as though he would entertain the possibility of such a move, but similarly to Guehi, he's not going to force through a transfer either.

He is contracted with Boro until June 2027, meaning the Teessiders won't feel pressured to cash in on him this summer either.

It also remains to be seen how Middlesbrough's new head coach, Rob Edwards, views the talented young defender, and whether or not he feels as though he wants to build his defence around him, or be willing to build his backline without the Dutchman moving forward.