Dan Cook has been speaking on the HLTCO podcast about Crystal Palace’s reported interest in Anthony Martial.
Palace launched a form of squad overhaul during the summer as they let 11 players leave the club while bringing in eight new faces, as well as a new manager in the form of Patrick Vieira and that decision, appears to be preparing rewards given they are unbeaten at home and have only lost to Chelsea and Liverpool in the league this season.
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Despite adding exciting players to their squad in the final third such as Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard, that has not halted reports suggesting that Vieira could look to bring Martial to Selhurst Park in January.
Cook is unsure over links to the French international.
(1:13) “There was one particular piece that I saw this morning, which certainly raised my eyebrows and it saw Anthony Martial the Manchester United forward linked with a move to Crystal Palace in January, Manchester United supposedly, wanting £40 million for his services.
“Silly season is what I would describe that as you know, we’re in the middle of October, albeit nearly at the start of November. Now, the idea of one, Anthony Martial entertaining, the idea of coming and signing for Crystal Palace seems fanciful, to say the least, two, you know, we’ve just signed Odsonne Edouard, we’ve got Christian Benteke up front, we’ve got a number of attacking midfielders that supplement them in the attacking third.
“The introduction of Anthony Martial on no doubt astronomical wages for a transfer fee that’s probably far higher than his actual value to us would be, none of it really adds up.
“I could be wrong, you know, it’s not going to be the first time potentially that I’m left with egg on my face but it just seemed like one of those transfer rumours that’s been plucked from thin air and created to get a few clicks.”
TIF Thoughts on Martial to Palace…
In the report, it claims that Man United are holding out for £40 million, despite splashing out £36 million on the attacker back in 2015, so that immediately doesn’t sit right especially with at least three years still to run on his current deal and has 172 games worth of Premier League experience under his belt.
Also, the fact that Palace’s record signing is Christian Benteke when they brought him to Selhurst Park for £28 million in 2016, the Eagles now being able to afford £40 million on one player, after spending £66 million in the summer, is quite ludicrous.
That is just from a Palace perspective as well, there would be a huge question mark over Martial’s appetite to join Palace who are currently five points behind Manchester United and can obviously not offer him any form of European football.
In other news: ‘It sounds ridiculous’ – Dan Cook reacts as CPFC star is ‘in the news and the headlines’