Crystal Palace and Fulham are reportedly interested in signing 23-year-old Ukrainian youth international Arseniy Batagov from Trabzonspor in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Premier League clubs will scout several highly-rated prospects at the upcoming UEFA Under-21 European Championships. Arseniy Batagov is one of the youngsters who will be under the spotlight during the competition, with several mid-table outfits keen on signing him.

Crystal Palace and Fulham are among the prospective suitors vying for the Trabzonspor centre-back’s signature heading into the summer transfer window. However, the two London clubs will face stiff competition from fellow Premier League outfits Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion to sign him this summer.

Who is Arseniy Batagov?

Arseniy Batagov is the latest highly-rated Ukrainian prospect to rise in prominence. The country has produced several promising prodigies in the last few years, with Georgiy Sudakov, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Illia Zabarnyi gaining recognition. Batagov has also made his mark, having come leaps and bounds since joining Trabzonspor from Zorya Luhansk last summer.

The 23-year-old was not the undisputed first-choice starter for Trabzonspor in the 2024/25 season, but he made his mark in his 2,025 minutes of game time across 23 appearances in all competitions while chipping in with two goals and one assist. Meanwhile, Batagov’s progress has piqued the attention of several well-known Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace and Fulham.

London calling?

Crystal Palace’s interest in Arseniy Batagov is understandable. The Eagles are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding Marc Guehi’s long-term future. With the English international a target for several European bigwigs, Crystal Palace must identify a replacement, with Batagov emerging as a viable target.

As for Fulham, it is unclear why the Cottagers are keen on signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window. Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey have forged a solid central defensive partnership, while Issa Diop is a top-notch backup option. Nevertheless, Batagov is a target for Fulham.

Apart from Crystal Palace and Fulham, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion are also keen on signing the 23-year-old Ukrainian defender. So, it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the highly-rated centre-back.