Speaking on the HLTCO podcast, host Dan Cook believes that Flynn Downes could well end up at Crystal Palace this summer.
Long-time servant James McArthur recently signed a new contract at SE25 while manager Patrick Vieira can also call upon Luka Milivojevic, Jairo Riedewald and Will Hughes.
However, his most used tandem of Conor Gallagher and Cheikhou Kouyate in centre-midfield has been ripped apart with the former returning to his parent club Chelsea and the uncertainty surrounding Kouyate’s future after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on an extended contract.
The club have acted quickly to reshape their engine room and are closing in on 22-year-old Lens enforcer Cheick Doucoure for an initial £18m.
Now the Daily Mail have reported that the Eagles are leading the race Downes with the Swansea maestro absent from the club’s friendly with Colchester on Tuesday and Cook believes he would compliment Doucoure effectively.
(8:38)”It all does sort of point towards Flynn Downes being the ideal player to come in and potentially slot into what Patrick Vieira wants, which is someone that can look after the ball and be slow and steady, I suppose rather than looking to catch eyes”
TIF Thoughts on Downes and Crystal Palace…
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Indeed with Doucoure’s robust and wholehearted approach that is likened to a combination of Jorginho and Marcelo Brozovic of Inter Milan’s playing style, the controlling capabilities of Downes could be beneficial.
He made 39 appearances last term recording a SofaScore rating for the season of 6.83 – ranking second in terms of Swansea midfielders and he also boasted the best pass success rate in the Championship, completing 92.6% of his passes (WhoScored).
Hailed as ‘incredible’ and a player who ‘does the dirty work’ he can also do a shift off the ball for his side as well and it may be a sensible transfer to pursue for those at SE25 considering the low-risk £12m asking price