Man City and Aston Villa Engage in £50M+ Battle for Wonderkid Dubbed the ‘New Jack Grealish’ After SHOCK Rejection”
TBR Football reports that Manchester City and Aston Villa have opened talks with promising youngster Jesse Derry, after the teenager opted against signing a professional contract with Crystal Palace. The South London outfit, long known for producing elite-level talent, now find themselves on the brink of losing yet another rising star from their academy system.
Crystal Palace have proudly developed several Premier League stalwarts in recent years – including Victor Moses, Wilfried Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Nathaniel Clyne – but Derry, despite being considered one of the brightest talents to emerge from the club’s youth ranks, is set to depart. The 17-year-old forward, who is the son of former Palace midfielder Shaun Derry – a player who made 222 appearances for the club – has turned down the opportunity to commit his future to Selhurst Park.
Premier League Heavyweights Circle as Contract Standoff Continues
According to TBR Football’s Chief Correspondent Graeme Bailey, both Manchester City and Aston Villa have entered the fray, holding discussions with the England U18 international and his representatives. Everton have also joined the pursuit, with several Premier League clubs eager to pounce on the uncertainty surrounding Derry’s future.
Crystal Palace, for their part, remain hopeful of changing the teenager’s mind. Club officials are still working hard behind the scenes to convince Derry to stay, with sources claiming they have already made it clear they view him as a key part of their long-term first-team plans. However, there’s growing concern at Selhurst Park that they are fighting a losing battle, particularly with elite clubs at home and abroad expressing serious interest.
Interest From Across Europe: A Tug of War for Derry
The competition for Derry’s signature isn’t limited to English clubs. TBR Football understands that a host of European heavyweights have also made contact with the player’s camp. Among those are Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus. Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers are also believed to have reached out, with both Glasgow clubs monitoring the situation closely.
Derry has already been compared to Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, not only because of his eye-catching hairstyle and signature low socks, but also due to his creative flair and ability to influence games in the final third. Tottenham Hotspur – who have also been linked with Grealish in the past – are said to be admirers of Derry as well.
A Versatile Talent Making Headlines
Despite being just 17, Derry has shown remarkable versatility this season in the U18 Premier League. He has featured on both flanks, operated as a central attacking midfielder, and even played as a striker when called upon. His preferred position is on the left wing, where he has truly excelled – registering nine goals and one assist in just eight league appearances.
His ability to adapt across multiple attacking roles has only increased his value, making him an even more attractive prospect for clubs looking to strengthen their youth ranks or even fast-track him into senior football.
Crystal Palace Face Double Blow
As if the potential departure of Derry wasn’t enough, Palace could be bracing for a second major exit. TBR Football has also learned that left-back Tyrick Mitchell is attracting growing interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Mitchell, a first-team regular, could become the next high-profile talent to leave the Eagles, compounding fears that the club’s long-term development strategy is under serious threat.
For now, Jesse Derry’s future remains unresolved – but what is clear is that Crystal Palace are at risk of losing one of the most exciting young prospects in English football, with Europe’s top clubs all lining up for his signature.
