Paul Merson has claimed Crystal Palace should have pulled out all the stops to sign Jermain Defoe ahead of Rangers as he backed the striker to fire in Scotland.
Speaking to the Daily Star, the high-profile pundit claimed he expects the former England international to “score lots of goals” for the Glasgow giants amid widespread reports he will undergo a medical today after agreeing the terms of an 18-month loan.
Merson is convinced Palace should have made a move for the experienced striker to solve their goalscoring problem.
“I thought Jermain Defoe would have been perfect for them,” Merson said. “They were crying out for a striker of his ilk but unfortunately he is now going to Rangers, where I suspect he will score lots of goals.
“Defoe is intelligent, makes good runs and scores goals. He ticks all the boxes and wasn’t getting a game at Bournemouth.”
OPINION
Palace’s loss is Rangers’ gain. Like many south of the border, Merson sees football through a Premier League prism. Defoe clearly sees a bigger and slightly different picture. In his glittering career, he has already saved clubs from relegation but he has never won a league title and there is the potential of making himself an Ibrox legend if he can fire the Glasgow giants over the finish line over this season and next. The 36-year-old has been twiddling his thumbs watching Callum Wilson and Josh King spearhead the Bournemouth attack this season, but he retains the hunger and ambition to score goals at the highest level. Rangers are getting a lethal finisher whose movement remains top drawer. If his new teammates in Scotland can provide a decent supply line, there could be no stopping the striker, who could score a goal a game when the season resumes after the winter break.