TalkSport insider Alex Crook has provided an update when it comes to Crystal Palace and their search for a forward this summer.
Crystal Palace have had trouble when it comes to forwards finding the back of the net, with midfielder Conor Gallagher the only player to manage to get on the scoresheet in all of their games so far this season.
And whilst Palace have brought in players in a number of positions so far this summer as part of their rebuild, centre-forward has not been one of them, which when you consider their main two centre-forwards from last season, Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew, only managed to score 11 goals between them, that seems a rather strange decision.
Speaking on the TalkSport Gameday podcast, Crook spoke about the recent signing of Watford midfielder Will Hughes, but said that he didn’t think that would be enough for them, and even cast his doubts on Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard, who is a name that has reportedly been on their radar recently:
“Crystal Palace getting in Will Hughes, I think that’s an astute signing, but they need a striker. Odsonne Edouard is a name that has been mentioned with them. They need a focal point and they’re lacking one, so I can see why he’s attractive to them, but it is a step up.”
TIF Thoughts on Alex Crook’s comments about Odsonne Edouard and Crystal Palace…
Do you think Palace should sign Edouard this summer?
Yes
No
Bringing in someone like Edouard would certainly be a bit of a risk for Crystal Palace to make, because whilst he certainly has an impressive record north of the border, recording double-digit returns in each of the past three seasons, as Crook points out, given the step up to the Premier League, which has caught out even some of the best forwards in the world, it’s not a given that he would be able to recreate his record for Palace, even if he was their main man.
And whilst Palace have done some good work so far this window, it could all go to waste if they end up spending money on him and he ends up not being able to provide the goals that they would likely rely heavily on him for, with a report in The Daily Mail claiming he will cost as much as £15m.
They would be far better off looking at someone that has a proven track record when it comes to the division rather than taking a swing on someone that would need to prove himself during a very challenging time for the club moving forward.
In other news: ‘At the moment’ – Presenter shares potential Conor Gallagher ‘problem’ at Crystal Palace