“No disrespect to our strikers, but we haven’t got that one top goalscorer some of the other bottom teams have” Warnock pleaded to talkSport’s Season Ticket. Well Neil, your wish is my command and I’m here to help…
Now, apologies in advance if you are all expecting the likes of £7 million+ Championship hotshots Britt Assombalonga or Jordan Rhodes in this list but let’s face it, we have no chance whatsoever in picking either of them up, so here’s six realistic striking options Palace should look to sign in January…
Bafétimbi Gomis
The ‘Baby Boo Drogba’, need I say more? Gomis surprisingly made the move up to South Wales this summer after impressing in Ligue 1 and the Champions League with Olympique Lyonnais for a number of seasons. The Frenchman’s chances have been extremely limited thanks to the form of Wilfried Bony who has now overtaken Michu as Swansea’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer. If the reports are believed to be true that the Swans want to replace AFCON-bound Bony in January with the highly-rated Léo Baptistão on loan from Atlético Madrid, then Gomis should be available on loan. The France international’s power and ability in the air could be a major asset in this Palace side for the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon.
Connor Wickham
Whether you like it or not, his name just does not go away. The 21-year-old has been linked with Palace since the days of dinosaurs and penny farthings. Ok, I’m overreacting a touch, but Palace co-chairman Steve Parish is thought to be a big fan and was keen in luring the Hereford-born striker to SE25 in the summer. Since then, Wickham helped Sunderland regain their status in the Premier League with five goals in three games towards the end of last season. Sunderland manager and laxative connoisseur Gus Poyet seems to have to put any chances of his signature to bed after confirming that Wickham will sign a new £60,000-a-week contract with the club.
Arouna Koné
The forgotten man? Arouna Koné impressed in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic a few years back. Possessing electrifying speed and a knack for goal, the Ivorian looked raw but a wise enough buy for then new Everton manager Roberto Martínez. Fast forward eighteen months and the former Sevilla man looks to have fallen down the pecking order behind Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o at Goodison Park. After missing out on Andrej Kramarić of HNK Rijeka, Leicester City are said to be keen. Could Koné be a realistic target for Warnock and Palace? A lot will depend on the 31-year-old’s recovery from a year-long knee injury, but he certainly did impress at Wigan.
Andre Gray
After rising through the ranks at Shrewsbury Town, it was at non-league Hinkley Town and Luton Town where 23-year-old Andre Gray made his name. The Wolverhampton-born striker’s 76 goals in four seasons led to Brentford signing him for a fee believed to be around £500,000 this summer. Having recently been voted as the Championship Player of the Month for November, Gray is proving to be a shrewd piece of business for the Bees. His pace and ability on the ball has troubled some of the Championship’s best defences and could be worth the gamble for Palace, but is he too similar to Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell?
Rudy Gestede
6 foot 4 Gestede has been in blistering form since moving to Blackburn Rovers last season and seems to have finally found his feet in professional football after indifferent spells at Metz and Cardiff. The Benin striker has outscored his much-favoured teammate Jordan Rhodes at Ewood Park this season with eleven goals in eighteen appearances. Rovers are seemingly riding high in the Championship this season so it is unlikely that manager Gary Bowyer would be interested in selling the French-born striker, but he could be a decent option for the Eagles.
Bas Dost
Left field alert! If Warnock and co decide to look overseas for a striker then Bas Dost could be the man they are looking for. His name may sound like a German action film, but the Dutchman was once a prolific striker in the Eredivisie where he was the league’s top scorer with 32 goals in 34 games at SC Heerenveen in 2011-2012. Since a big money move to VfL Wolfsburg, the 25-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the Bundesliga. Having only made three appearances this season, the 6 foot 4 marksman hinted this week that he would be interested in a move away from the German club. Dost would, therefore, be a major coup if he is able to replicate his goalscoring form from yesteryear in England.
