The South London club have reportedly marked the highly-rated Portuguese youngster as a possible midfield addition and are among several teams interested in signing him before the window closes.

Palace are bracing for a frantic conclusion to their summer dealings, with star man Eberechi Eze expected to seal a £68m transfer to Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Oliver Glasner’s side have pinpointed Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss as a potential successor, with negotiations close to finalising a £32m move for the talented 21-year-old.

They are also said to be keeping tabs on Fernandes’ Southampton teammate, Tyler Dibling, as another option, though the 19-year-old would come at a significantly higher price.

Southampton have so far resisted offers for Fernandes, rejecting a £30m proposal from West Ham earlier this month.

The Saints are thought to be using Romeo Lavia’s £58m Chelsea switch as a guideline for their valuation, and are holding out for around £60m for the midfielder.

Fernandes shone in Southampton’s tough Premier League season, recording 36 outings and playing more minutes than any other U21 in the league.

The ‘exceptional’ 21-year-old, signed from Sporting Lisbon for £15m last year, was also voted the club’s Player of the Year, joining past winners Virgil van Dijk, James Ward-Prowse and Adam Lallana.

Fernandes would represent another shrewd Championship signing for Palace – in recent years, they have added Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton, all of whom made a big impact at Selhurst Park after second-tier moves.

Palace have made just two signings after their FA Cup triumph in 2024/25, bringing in goalkeeper Walter Benitez and defender Borna Sosa this summer.

The Eagles began their league campaign with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea last weekend and next face Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad in the Conference League qualifiers on Thursday.