Bobadilla's rise has been steady rather than sudden. Over the past 18 months the 24-year-old has become one of Sao Paulo's most trusted performers, and this season he has pushed that reputation further still, contributing three goals and five assists in 28 appearances, the vast majority of them starts.
He's carried that same form onto the international stage, with a strong Paraguay World Cup campaign only adding to the sense that a European switch is now just a matter of timing rather than if.
Celtic, Brighton and Brentford had already been credited with interest in recent weeks, meaning Palace's arrival on the scene simply extends a queue that already stretches from Scotland to the south coast of England.
According to RTI Esporte, Palace's scouting of Bobadilla intensified specifically around his World Cup performances, mirroring the pattern seen with several other clubs on the list.
None of Bobadilla's admirers, Palace included, have gone as far as a formal move just yet — but with so many clubs already circling, it wouldn't take much for that to change if Sao Paulo signal any flexibility on his price.
Como, the Serie A club with Cesc Fabregas on the touchline, and Real Betis have also made contact with Bobadilla's representatives at an early, exploratory stage, according to separate reports, while Sao Paulo have denied receiving any formal approaches for a player they value at around €12m.
The Brazilian club signed Bobadilla from Cerro Porteno in January 2024 for a reported €2.7m and tied him down on a contract running to December 2027, giving them little reason to sell cheaply even with interest mounting on multiple fronts.