Crystal Palace are playing catch-up to VfB Stuttgart and Villarreal in their pursuit of Croatian midfield sensation Toni Fruk.

Toni Fruk could soon end up joining a bigger club in Europe, as a host of top clubs from across Europe are keen on his signature. The 24-year-old Croatian international has made quite a name for himself with his impressive performances, and he now finds himself on the wishlist of Crystal Palace, VfB Stuttgart and Villarreal.

According to Ekrem Konur, the Eagles are behind VfB Stuttgart and Villarreal in the race for his signature. The Bundesliga and the La Liga clubs have already held substantial talks to sign the HNK Rijeka mainstay.

The 24-year-old, who was a part of the Fiorentina setup, joined the Croatian outfit in the summer of 2023. The youngster has only gone from strength to strength since, and has managed to break into the Croatian national team. Given his impressive rise, he has been touted as a successor to Croatian maestro Luka Modric.

Toni Fruk prefers playing as a number ten, but he can feature anywhere in the centre of the park, as well as up top as a number nine. The Croat has been involved in a total of 27 matches this season, and he has even contributed towards 13 goals.

Three European clubs to battle for Fruk

Toni Fruk’s impressive performances have put him on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. With just 18 months left on his contract, he looks set to part ways with Rijeka in the near future. With clubs like Crystal Palace, VfB Stuttgart, and Villarreal after his signature, he could be on the move as early as January.

While the Eagles are keen on his signature and consider him an ideal fit for Glasner’s system, they are behind Stuttgart and Villarreal at this point. Both clubs have held more substantial talks to secure his services.

However, the Premier League outfit are not yet out of the race. Glasner wants more creativity in the final third, and he would love to work with a versatile player like Fruk. They certainly have the financial strength to rival the German and the Spanish clubs.