Crystal Palace have bolstered their scouting ranks by employing talent spotters in Belgium, France and Spain, in a bid to improve their fortunes in the transfer market.
Impressed by signings made by West Ham and Southampton, Palace hope that these acquisitions will help the Eagles find the next Dmitri Payet or Cedric.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish said that with the upcoming TV deal bringing in increased revenue to the Premier League, there has never been more need to find the next bargain.
Parish said:
We were pleased with what we did in the transfer window last season with players like Pape Souare. We have really beefed up the scouting department this year and hope it will bear fruits.
Parish highlighted that fees in the range of £40-£60m are now talked about regularly, meaning that clubs will have to continue to be shrewd in the transfer market.
Belgium has become a hotbed of talent over recent years, with their national team currently ranked number one in the FIFA rankings, and The Independent has linked goal-shy Palace with in-form Gent striker Laurent Depoitre.
Palace have struggled for goals this season, prompting them to sign free agent Emmanuel Adebayor in the January transfer window.
