Crystal Palace have now stepped up their efforts to land a “superb” defender, who would be willing to complete a move to Selhurst Park.
Palace keen to reinforce at right-back amid Munoz interest
Palace could face a battle to retain Daniel Munoz beyond 2026 amid increasing attention on the defender, with Chelsea previously credited with interest, while Manchester United and Manchester City have also entered the frame.
Pep Guardiola is known to be a keen admirer of the right-back, but the Eagles have made it clear they have no intention of approving a January exit, viewing him as a vital part of the squad.
Steve Parish remains confident about keeping Munoz until at least the summer, with the Colombian tied down until 2028, meaning there is no immediate pressure to sell. However, a substantial offer at the end of the season could test the chairman’s resolve.
With that in mind, Crystal Palace have begun assessing alternative right-back options, with Bayern Munich’s Sacha Boey identified earlier this month as a potential January target.
Boey is not the only name on their radar, though. Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that Palace have now made an enquiry for KRC Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi (via Sport Witness), with the Belgian side open to doing business for a fee in the region of €10m–€12m (£9m–£11m).
Initial contact has been made with El Ouahdi’s representatives, and the defender is understood to be receptive to a move to Selhurst Park. However, he is viewed as a secondary option should Palace fail to reach an agreement for the Bayern Munich full-back.
The right-back has already rejected a switch to Everton, as he is reluctant to join a side battling relegation, a stance that raises eyebrows given the Toffees currently sit ninth in the Premier League, just two points behind Oliver Glasner’s men.
“Superb” El Ouahdi catching the eye in Belgium:
The Moroccan has delivered a number of standout displays during the 2024–25 campaign, with scout Jacek Kulig labelling him a “superb complete full-back with all the qualities needed to play in a top 5 league.”
Since then, the Belgium-born defender has continued to shine, particularly going forward. He has contributed four goals and one assist in the Belgian Pro League this season, an impressive return for a defender, while also standing out across several underlying metrics over the past year.
Zakaria El Ouahdi’s key statistics
Average per 90 (past year)
Non-penalty goals: 0.28 (99th percentile)
Pass completion %: 83.1% (87th percentile)
Touches (Att pen): 2.74 (91st percentile)
Blocks: 1.56 (91st percentile)
Munoz is also recognised for his attacking output, having recorded five goal contributions in the Premier League this season, which suggests the Genk man could offer a near like-for-like alternative.
That said, Palace would be wise to do everything possible to retain their current right-back, given that he has already proven his quality in England, while El Ouahdi is yet to test himself in one of Europe’s elite leagues.