Silly season is upon us, with Palace being linked with every player to have ever been managed by Ian Holloway. With the highly recommended Tim Coe joining the club as Head of Player Recruitment/Scouting, CPFC2010 appear to be learning from previous mistakes in the transfer window.
Co-chairman Steve Parish has said there will be no marquee signings, and Palace will be more sensible and low key. So who should they be signing this summer? Here's Matt Woosnam...
Nathan Redmond
At 19 years old and nearing 100 first team appearances for financially troubled Birmingham City, the midfielder could be the perfect replacement for departing Wilfried Zaha. Happy to run at players with pace & confidence, but not limited to deployment as a winger, Redmond could well fit into the current system of tucking inside to be a wide midfielder.
Unlikely to command a fee above £3m this signing would show intent & arguably the youngster could be said to be Premier League quality already. There is little doubt that Palace would face competition for Redmond, but the guarantee of first team football may lure the soon to be England U21 international to Selhurst Park. Flair & pace would excite the fans but would he produce a good enough end product?
Tom Lees
Leeds’ England U21 international Tom Lees has made over 40 appearances for the club in both of the previous two seasons, having finally established himself as a regular starter at Elland Road. With Palace only having Quade Taylor and Alex Wynter as potential young centre backs breaking through, as Ryan Inniss needs more time to develop, Lees could be a good buy.
With plenty of experience already at the club in the form of Gabbidon, Ramage and the two Irishmen, Delaney & McCarthy; Lees would surely be assisted in his development. Whether or not he would be prepared to make minimal appearances remains to be seen, but it could be time for Palace to pounce on a promising young central defender.
Hal Robson-Kanu
Another winger, with 14 caps for Wales at 24 years of age Robson-Kanu would fit the criteria set by CPFC2010 of buying up and coming talents. Already with Premier League experience, the Welshman hit 7 goals in 25 league appearances for Reading last season, and with their relegation to the championship he is a possible signing for any of the promoted clubs. However, he may want to stay under the tutelage of Royals boss Nigel Adkins after the former Southampton manager allowed him greater opportunities to demonstrate his capabilities.
What of the price tag? Reading wouldn’t allow their academy graduate to leave on the cheap, but it would be realistic to suggest that Robson-Kanu is within Palace’s price range. His greater experience may make him a better target than Redmond for the coming season, with attention to Redmond if we remain in the Premier League, but he would perhaps demand higher wages.
Will Grigg
Who? Walsall’s striker hit 20 goals this season in League One and it is rumoured that Aston Villa were courting him in the January transfer window. Grigg has yet to agree terms on a new contract and should he refuse to sign then he would be available on a bosman transfer, arguably at a cost of under £1m.
A slightly risky signing in that the 21-year-old from Solihull only bagged four goals in each of his two previous seasons, but Palace are looking for upcoming talent and sometimes you have to take a punt on somewhat unproven players.
Would he adapt to the Premier League? Grigg would be one for the future, appearing irregularly but still gaining valuable experience. Perhaps he is worth a gamble, a young striker alongside the experience of Wilbraham, Murray and Phillips.
Simeon Jackson
Another out of contract player, Jackson was released by Norwich at the end of the season. Despite little Premier League experience, at 26 years of age he could fit into Palace’s squad and will surely be desperate to prove his ability in the higher leagues. Jackson’s goalscoring record at Gillingham catches the eye, but when tested in the Championship or Premier League the goals did not flow for the Canadian.
On a free transfer Jackson could provide adequate cover for the injured Glenn Murray, as well as another option. Given the right service, it’s possible that the former Gillingham man could step up to the plate and find the net more frequently than in his previous crack at the top league in England. Palace may look to sign him as cover, but it is more likely they will turn their attentions to Real Madrid’s Javier Acuna.