There are only a few weeks left until the English Premier League returns, and nearly every club is busy in the transfer window to bolster their squads for the new campaign. All the talk is focused on the dominant clubs of Manchester and North London, while Crystal Palace are quietly going about their business in shrewd fashion.
Alan Pardew has already made a couple of clever acquisitions in centre-back James Tomkins from West Ham United, and the winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle United.
Townsend, who made the switch back into the Premier League after failing to avoid relegation with Newcastle last season, could inject a much needed creative spark in the final third. The 25-year- old is desperate to make an impression after being left out in the cold at Tottenham Hotspur, and during his brief spell at Newcastle he showed his talent with four goals and two assists.
Townsend’s inclusion in the squad would mean he plays out wide, which could lead Pardew to field Yannick Bolasie as a number 10. This could be the key to getting the best out of the powerful attacker who scored four goals and assisted twelve in the 2014/15 campaign.
Pardew’s business in the transfer window is far from over by the looks of things, and he is keen to address the major flaw in his squad from last season. Palace were lacking a competent striker to spearhead the attack, and this is why their form dropped so dramatically after the turn of the year.
The club may be in the market for a double swoop of Christian
Benteke and Saido Berahino, though, and either of these players could significantly improve the shape of the Eagles’ attack.
"Saido Berahino 8886" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by WarwickGB
According to the Bet365 sports betting news, Bolasie is keen for the duo to sign, and believes that they could provide the spark that was missing in the last campaign. Palace will face competition from Stoke City for Berahino, who have also expressed an interest in West Brom’s out-of- sorts striker.
According to the Daily Star, Liverpool are holding out for £30million for Benteke, in an attempt to minimise their losses on what they paid Aston Villa for the striker only a year ago.
Although the Belgian had a disappointing season at Anfield, the direct football that Liverpool played didn’t really play to the striker’s strengths. Benteke is an enormous forward who thrives on crosses from wide and aerial chances. With Townsend and Wilfried Zaha operating on the wings at Selhurst Park, the former Aston Villa striker could get the service he needs.
Before moving to Merseyside, Benteke scored 13 league goals in a struggling Villa side, and with a flowing and creative Palace midfield behind him he could flourish.
If Palace manage to get either or both of these players, they could well be the team to look out for in the league this season. On the other hand, though, if they fail to address the striker situation, they may be trying to claw their way up from the bottom by Christmas.
Image Credit
"Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Benteke" (CC BY 2.0) by Ben Sutherland
