Christantus Uche joined Crystal Palace from Getafe in the summer transfer window…
Super Eagles midfielder Christantus Uche is expected to remain at Crystal Palace, despite speculations that he could return to Getafe due to lack of playing time in England, Soccernet.ng reports.
Uche joined Premier League club Crystal Palace from Getafe on transfer deadline day. It was a controversial deal, as the Spanish club were first unwilling to sell because Uche was an important player for them.
But they eventually caved in due to their tight financial situation, and he signed a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy.
When the Super Eagles star joined, he was expected to be a quick fix for Oliver Glasner's team, after they sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for €69.3 million.
However, it hasn't turned out that way, as Uche has become a regular benchwarmer for the Eagles.
The versatile 22-year-old midfielder has played a paltry 67 minutes for the reigning FA Cup champions this season.
He hasn't started a game, despite Crystal Palace's involvement in the domestic cup competition and the Conference League.
This has prompted speculations that Uche is unhappy in London. Also, Uche's recent action, when he liked a social media post that insinuated that he would return to Getafe, fueled the rumors.
But in a new development, per Footy Africa, sources close to the player have confirmed that Uche has his mind set on staying at Crystal Palace in the long term.
Why Christantus Uche Will Not Return To Getafe
Despite the speculations, it is highly likely that Christantus Uche will stay at Crystal Palace, at least, till the end of the season.
In the Super Eagles midfielder's contract, there is an obligation to buy clause, with Crystal Palace billed to pay Getafe €17.5 million next summer.
Getafe cannot opt out of this agreement due to their financial constraints. The way transfers work, “obligation to buy” deals are usually considered as permanent deals when the clubs are doing their accounting.
So, in Getafe's accounting books, Crystal Palace have made the full payment for Uche (even if they haven't), and that was how they were able to wriggle through their financial issues at the start of the campaign and register their players.
As it stands, the Super Eagles star will have to keep working hard in order to earn Oliver Glasner's trust. Uche will be hoping that he gets more playing time in the coming weeks.
