Chadi Riad set for Crystal Palace medical ahead of £14m move from Barcelona

Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Morocco centre-back Chadi Riad, who is due to undergo a medical ahead of his £14million move from Barcelona.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Real Betis and enjoyed an excellent campaign in La Liga.

Riad, who was born in Majorca but has two caps for Morocco, made 30 appearances for the side that finished seventh in Spain.

Palace are expected to wrap up a deal to make the left-footed defender their first summer signing, as they bid to build on their strong finish to the campaign under Oliver Glasner and strengthen for next season.

Riad’s arrival will cast doubt over the future of Marc Guehi at Palace, given the interest in the 23-year-old England centre-back.

Guehi has been linked with a move to Manchester United, who reportedly see him as an alternative target to Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. The signing of Riad would soften his departure.

Palace are also braced for interest in star attackers Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, but Glasner is determined to keep them.