Last season with Wilfried Zaha’s emergence as a forward, it seemed that with a few changes Crystal Palace could survive the Premier League and maybe even flourish. However, while they did add Max Meyer over the summer and a few others, Palace are still struggling to even stay afloat in the Premier League, with many wondering if they deserve to be here.
They currently 14th in the League table, four points off the drop zone and with a negative goal-difference, having struggled to find the back of the net. With the January transfer window open, it allows manager Roy Hodgson a chance to reinforce his squad for the upcoming battle.
Julian Speroni, Wayne Hennessey and Vincente Guatia, those are Crystal Palace’s three goal-keeping options and none of them is below the age of 30. Guatia is the youngest and the newest arrival, having joined over the summer which is a big surprise considering the talent on show. The likes of Nick Pope, Jack Butland, Alban Lafont and so many others were available and yet Palace never made a move.
Now, they have a chance to fix that mistake and bring in a worthy goal-keeper for a side fighting for a place in the top ten. Both Jack Butland and Nick Pope are solid options, alongside Pau Lopez and a few others.
Recalling Jordan Ayew seems to be Roy Hodgson’s answer to all his striking woes this season, with Christian Benteke out for another few more weeks at least. Furthermore, Alexander Sorloth has been loaned out.
Other than the recalled Ayew, Crystal Palace have no one else to call upon other than Connor Wickham and even he’s been struggling. While they do have Zaha, it seems that the former Manchester United man does better alongside Benteke up front and without his strike partner, he seems lost. However, that’s a problem that should be solved once Benteke is fit but till then, they need a bonafide goalscorer. For that, Hodgson will have to dip into the market.
Manager Roy Hodgson has more than a few unwanted stars at the club, especially the likes of Pape Souare, Joel Ward and a few more. It’s great to have a big squad but that’s only if you are taking part in multiple tournaments. Other than the FA Cup and Premier League, Crystal Palace aren’t a part of anything else.
This not only hampers morale but also affects confidence and leads to bad games. For Palace, it can only mean sending the unwanted stars out on loan to help them regain confidence and sell those who have no future at the club. This allows extra cash flow but also keeps the squad happy on the whole.
