Alan Pardew has likened Eberechi Eze to Johan Cruyff, whilst admitting the Crystal Palace star could leave the club this summer.

The England midfielder has long been tipped for a move to one of the Premier League’s big names, having earned plenty of admirers for his standout displays with the Eagles.

Getty

After impressing as an impact sub during England’s run to the final of Euro 2024, a number of clubs were said to have been interested in Eze last summer, including Manchester City.

While this never materialised into a concrete offer, the 26-year-old’s performances this term have continued to see him linked with a move away from Selhurst Park.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United have all been touted as potential next destinations for Eze, who is understood to have a release clause of £68million that kicks in at the end of the season.

And former Palace and Newcastle manager Pardew believes Palace will struggle to keep hold of their star man this summer.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, the 63-year-old likened the playmaker’s ability to that of Barcelona and the Netherlands icon Johan Cruyff.

Pardew admitted: “I certainly think there’ll be one or two problems for Steve Parish and the board there come the summer.

“And Eze will definitely be probably top of the list.”

Detailing the former Queens Park Rangers man’s skillset, he continued: “He has this great ability to just glide past people.

“It’s almost silky, like Johan Cruyff used to move – just shift it and just leave people for dead.

“He’s not particularly rapid in terms of taking people on for a pace. He’s just clever. And he manoeuvres the ball to create a shot or create a pass. And he’s as good as anybody at doing that.

AFP

Johan Cruyff is regarded as one of the best footballer players of all time[/caption]

Getty

Getty

“I’m sure Palace won’t thank me for saying, but I think he could play for one of the big clubs for sure.”

While Eze has some way to go to match the achievements of three-time European Cup winner Cruyff, his creativity and flair have seen him become Palace’s main man in recent years.

Since joining from QPR for £17m in 2020, the south London-born star has backed up his undeniable talent with strong numbers.

In almost five seasons at Selhurst Park, he has notched 33 goals in all competitions from midfield, laying on a further 28 assists.

This includes back-to-back 10-goal campaigns in the Premier League, with Eze netting 10 times in the league in the 2022/23 season, and then 11 last term.

His statistics are made all the more impressive given Palace have failed to finish higher than 10th in the league table during his time at the club.

Getty

Eze’s ball-carrying ability is one of his biggest strengths[/caption]

And Eze’s impact at club level hasn’t gone unnoticed, earning a first senior England call-up in May 2021, before featuring three times for the Three lions at Euro 2024.

It isn’t just Pardew who has gushed over his abilities either, with Eagles manager Oliver Glasner labelling him a ‘top’ player.

Speaking after Eze scored and assisted in a Carabao Cup win over QPR in September, Glasner said: “Who’s a better player than Eze?

“For me he’s absolutely top, if he was luckier this season he would have five or six goals.

“He’s always dangerous because he has the quality and ability. He’s such an unbelievable finisher. In some situations he can improve, he’s a guy who can always score and he’s someone who everyone likes.