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We have just under three months until the transfer window reopens again and, unlike the summer, Crystal Palace look like they could be busy this winter.
The Athletic reports that the Eagles will have a “chunk” of the £50m generated from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s exit to spend in January, and a striker is “almost certainly” on the south Londoners’ list according to Matt Woosnam.
“Come the January transfer window, Palace will have a chunk of the £50 million from the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to spend. They are sure, regardless, to look for someone — almost certainly a striker — to ease the burden on the defence by scoring more frequently.”
It would be a sensible place to start.
Roy Hodgson’s side sit 6th in the Premier League table, boasting one of the best defensive records having conceded just a goal per game on average with eight concessions.
However, they have also scored just a goal per game on average – Jordan Ayew is the club’s current top scorer with three goals.
Last season, the Eagles’ most prolific striker in the league was again the Ghanaian, joint-top with Christian Benteke with one goal, excluding loan players – that tells you everything you need to know about Palace’s problems.
There have already been a handful of targets mooted, so let’s take a look at their suitability…
[snack_break title=”Michy Batshuayi”]
The Daily Mail report that Palace are targeting a January reunion with the man who scored five goals in nine league starts for them while on loan in the second half of last season.
Batshuayi, in that respect, is arguably the safest option that the south Londoners could go for this winter, although he would perhaps be one of the most expensive.
The Belgium international would reportedly cost £22m, and would likely demand a huge salar given he is currently earning £90k-a-week at Chelsea.
A pricey deal, yes, but one that Palace will know exactly what they’re getting.
Suitability: 8/10
[snack_break title=”Fedor Chalov”]
The Eagles bid £23m for the promising young Russian’s signature back in the summer, but were rebuffed in their advances by CSKA Moscow.
Now, this is a dangerous one.
That is a lot of money for a 21-year-old who has only proven himself in Russia – it must be remembered that even Alexander Sorloth had hit 15 goals in 26 Danish Superliga appearances before Palace signed him in January midway through the 2017/18 campaign.
Chalov scored that same amount in the league in 2018/19, and also netted against Real Madrid in the Champions League, but the warning signs over this one are definitely there.
Suitability: 6/10
[snack_break title=”Ollie Watkins”]
This is a player who the south Londoners seem sold on, having tried to sign him for a number of years – firstly in 2018, and then again in the summer of 2019 when they saw an £11m bid fail.
Watkins has scored 10 Championship goals in each of the last two campaigns, and already has seven this season in just 11 appearances.
Young, English and seemingly improving year-on-year, this is a signing that would be a good one for Palace by all accounts – it is arguably the type of deal in which they should be doing more of, given how lucrative English commodities can be – Harry Maguire, we’re looking at you.
Suitability: 9/10
[snack_break title=”Gabriel Barbosa”]
If Chalov is to be deemed as a potentially expensive flop, then the same can be said of Gabriel Barbosa.
The Brazil international – also known as Gabigol – has an absurd scoring rate in Brazil, netting 23 in 28 games for Flamengo having previously scored 43 times for Santos.
However, he has already had his big move to Europe when Inter Milan shelled out a reported €25m (£21.6m) for his services, only for the Italian giants to see him score just once in ten games before loaning him to Flamengo.
Passione Inter exclusively report that the 23-year-old’s value has risen to around €30m (£25.9m).
For that kind of money, Palace have to be sure of what they’re buying, and there really is no way they can be given his lack of credibility outside of Europe.
Suitability: 4/10
[snack_break title=”Francesco Caputo”]
A strange link, but a link nonetheless.
Passione Inter report that Hodgson has a ‘particular interest’ in Sassuolo striker Francesco Caputo, a player who many Palace fans will presumably have never heard of.
It cannot be denied, however, that the Italian has started the season in fine form with three goals in five Serie A games. He also netted 16 last term, although his age is a concern – Caputo is 32.
The Athletic recently revealed that Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman are keen to target players in their early 20s, so if that is to be true, Caputo should pretty much be off the list of targets.
Suitability: 3/10
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