Crystal Palace line up €20m January move for Celta Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba

Crystal Palace are considering a €20m offer for Celta Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba as they look to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window.

According to Fichajes, the Premier League club are prepared to invest the figure in the 23-year-old, who has emerged as a target while Crystal Palace attempt to improve their position in the league.

The Eagles are currently bottom of the Premier League and are planning changes to their squad in January. Their priority is to add fresh options and restore balance and effectiveness in midfield as they seek to recover from a difficult start to the campaign.

Moriba’s potential, European experience and qualities in the centre of the pitch are understood to have attracted Crystal Palace. The club believe he could provide significant reinforcement in their effort to move away from the relegation zone.

However, a deal is unlikely to be straightforward. Moriba is under contract with Celta Vigo until 30 June 2029 and has a release clause worth €30m, leaving the Spanish club with a strong negotiating position.

Celta Vigo hold strong position

Celta Vigo signed Moriba permanently in June 2025 after his loan spell from RB Leipzig. The transfer reportedly cost the Spanish club about €6m and was completed alongside a contract extension running until 2029.

That agreement included the €30m release clause. Crystal Palace’s proposed €20m bid would therefore fall short of the amount required to automatically secure the midfielder’s release, although it would still represent a significant profit for Celta Vigo.

Moriba’s market value is estimated at €15m. He earns an annual salary of €1,620,000 (1,053,000,000 FCFA) in Spain.

The next stage will depend on whether Crystal Palace formally make an offer and whether Celta Vigo are willing to negotiate the departure of a player who remains tied to them for the long term.

For the Eagles, Moriba’s arrival could provide an important boost in their attempt to escape the bottom three. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, must weigh the financial benefit of a potential sale against the value of keeping the midfielder for the remainder of his contract.

The January transfer window could therefore prove important for Moriba’s future, with his name increasingly being linked with a move to England.

Celta Vigo will soon play their 13th league match of the season against Real Madrid. 1xbet lists the odds at 12.50 for a Celta Vigo win, 7.00 for a draw and 1.20 for a Real Madrid victory.