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Frankfurt Chairman Admits Crystal Palace Target Filip Kostic is Likely to Leave This Summer

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The door is open for Crystal Palace to make a move for Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Filip Kostic as a Wilfried Zaha replacement in the summer, with the German club's chairman conceding it will be difficult to keep hold of the Serbian attacker.

The Eagles are preparing for life without Zaha by scouting potential replacements, as it looks likely that their key man will depart in the coming months, and Kostic has emerged as an option.

The forward has been in scintillating form for Frankfurt this season, scoring 12 and assisting 14 in just 37 appearances since signing permanently from Hamburg in July 2019, following an initial loan. And although he doesn't possess the same levels of pace and flair as Wilfried Zaha, he does offer more of a goalscoring threat as he is proven to be more prolific in front of goal.

As reported by BILD (via HITC), Frankfurt chairman Wolfgang Steubing believes that it will be a near-impossible task to keep hold of the 27-year-old for much longer after his remarkable purple patch of form in 2019/20, saying: "(I) don't think we can keep Kostic!"

The Germans are hoping to pocket at least €30m for the Serbia international, with Steubing adding (via ​Buli News): "That depends on his performances. If he plays a few more outstanding games, he might cost even more."

The attacker is capable of playing on either flank, is six foot tall, and often drives forward with real vigour and power. He's a constant threat and it is clear to see why Steubing has come to this conclusion regarding the player's future; clubs are simply bound to make a move for him.

Frankfurt reached the Europa League semi-finals last season after a front three of Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller and Ante Rebic wrought havoc in the competition. All three were to depart the Commerzbank-Arena in the summer for big fees and it looks likely that Kostic will be the next talent to leave.

​Palace would likely face competition for his signature, but it would certainly make sense for Kostic to make the move to Selhurst Park in the summer as he would be an effective replacement for Zaha if the Eagles lose their Ivorian star as expected.