Crystal Palace Signs Anan Khalaili, Outbidding Nottingham Forest

Crystal Palace is set to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday following the international break. Nottingham Forest, currently one point behind Palace, will be without Anan Khalaili, a player they were close to signing last summer. Forest's coach, Oliver Glasner, who won the Conference League last year, has since departed.

Crystal Palace pursued Khalaili last year and expressed interest in acquiring the winger. Nottingham Forest entered the race after a potential transfer to Inter Milan fell through, offering €20 million for Khalaili. However, Crystal Palace ultimately secured his transfer for €28 million.

Reports suggest that Nottingham Forest may have continued negotiations, possibly attempting to increase the bonus payments. Forest later engaged in advanced talks to sign Javi Ruata from Celta Vigo, but the deal did not materialize. Instead, they signed Colombian player Daniel Muñoz, who had a strong performance in the recent World Cup and was effectively replaced at Palace by Khalaili after being purchased for €25.7 million, a sum lower than Khalaili's transfer fee to London.

Muñoz has started games for Palace, showing promise in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa but struggled in a loss to Nottingham Forest. Khalaili has started four games this season, scoring one goal in a 3-2 defeat to Ipswich. Crystal Palace has accumulated four league points so far, with a 3-2 victory over Fulham and a 0-0 draw against Leeds before the international break.