Why Crystal Palace signing Danny Loader will be a good move
According to a report from Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are eyeing a swoop for Reading youngster Danny Loader, who will be a free agent in the summer.
Loader, 19, started out at the academy of Wycombe Wanderers before joining the Reading youth setup in 2012. The young forward rose rapidly through the ranks and made his first-team debut in 2017, aged just 16.
Till date, Loader has featured 35 times for the Royals first-team, bagging two goals and a solitary assist.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have enjoyed another steady campaign under manager Roy Hodgson. The Eagles, at the time of suspension of football, were stationed in the 11th place in the table. Given that they are just four points below sixth-placed Wolves, they stand a chance of finishing in the top half of the table when the season resumes.
However, for Palace to build on this and take the next step, the squad needs to be strengthened, especially in the attacking department, where they lack depth and quality. Indeed, the Eagles have managed just 26 goals over the course of the 2019/20 campaign. Only Newcastle United and Norwich City (both 25) have scored fewer than Hodgson’s side.
As things stand, Palace just have two centre-forwards on the books. Jordan Ayew has had a decent enough campaign, bagging 8 goals but Christian Benteke’s struggles seem never-ending. While they did sign Cenk Tosun on loan in January, the forward returned to parent club Everton after a season-ending knee injury.
So, it goes without saying that Palace need to bring in a new centre-forward this summer. To that end, signing Danny Loader from Reading would be a wise move by the Eagles. While the youngster doesn’t have a whole lot of first-team experience, his record with the youth sides and the reserves speak for themselves.
In 18 matches for Reading’s U18 side, Loader has scored 10 goals and assisted once. The 19-year-old has featured 38 times for the club’s U23 outfit, in which he has contributed 19 goals and 6 assists. In addition, he has been a consistent performer for the England youth teams across all age groups.
While he is yet to make a significant impact at first-team level, Loader has demonstrated enough potential so far. Signing him would add some much-needed depth and firepower to the Palace frontline. And with experience, the youngster can grow into a key player for the Eagles.
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Verdict
The lack of goals has been an issue for Crystal Palace this season. Hence, adding another talented, young centre-forward like Danny Loader would be a smart move by the Eagles. The 19-year-old has shown promise in his fledgeling career and would be available on a free transfer, making him an attractive prospect.
