Crystal Palace are closing in on a £12m deal to sign Sassuolo striker Khouma Babacar, a fortnight after he signed a permanent deal with the Italian club from Fiorentina.
Manager Roy Hodgson is plausibly still chasing a striker to either replace or provide cover for Christian Benteke, who had a lacklustre time in front of the goal last season. The 25-year-old Senegalese performed well to attract attention in England and now, he might get a chance to play for the Eagles.
Babacar has the physical strength and attributes required to be a threat in the Premier League. His presence would surely enhance Crystal Palace’s front line.
Here’s everything you need to know about the player and why he could be the difference-maker at Selhurst Park:
With his stature, Babacar can dominate games aerially and shrug off centre-backs with ease. In addition, he has the deftness to use the ball diligently with his feet, making him a complete striker who will be a nuisance for the defenders.
Despite his physical strength, Babacar has the quality to dribble past people at a rate of 0.2 per game and create space for a shot. He doesn’t often get dispossessed easily, which is another great aspect. In fact, he only got robbed off the ball at an average of 0.85 per game despite being surrounded by defenders often.
The 25-year-old has a pass success rate of 80.5%, depicting his ability to fabricate passes towards the goal for the midfielders as well.
In Hodgson’s 4-4-1-1 system, Babacar can be deployed either as a sole striker up front or in a supporting role behind Benteke. The Senegalese will add a different dimension to the Palace lineup, which will make them a better team next season.
Read More: Go for it Hodgson – This versatile West Ham beast could be a fantastic signing for Crystal Palace
Babacar has the required qualities to be a potent threat for the Premier League defences. He possesses the potential to become something special in the years to come, and there is no one better than Hodgson to extract the best of a player with high promise and talent.
Hence, the 25-year-old must be signed by the Eagles to get good results next season.
Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com (Stats consist of his performances for Fiorentina and Sassuolo last season)
