Exclusive: European side weighing up loan move for Crystal Palace striker

HJK Helsinki are exploring a loan move for Crystal Palace striker Luke Plange, the South London Press understands.

Plange netted a hat-trick for Darren Powell’s U21 side in their 4-2 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night at Gander Green Lane.

The 21-year-old has been training with Oliver Glasner’s first team in recent weeks and was named on the bench in the Premier League outings against Burnley, Tottenham, and Luton.

He did not travel with the first team for their mid-season training week in Marbella.

Ex-Palace midfielder Aki Riihilahti is the CEO of Helsinki. They have lifted the Finnish top-flight trophy for the past four consecutive seasons, with their campaign kicking off in April.

Plange has had four loan spells away from Selhurst Park since joining from Derby County in January 2022.

The former Arsenal youngster headed back to Pride Park for the rest of the 2021-22 season after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Eagles.

He spent time on loan with Palace’s sister side RWD Molenbeek at the start of last season before returning to England in January to join side Lincoln City.

Plange was loaned to Carlisle until January at the start of this campaign and scored twice for the League One side.