---
title: "Palace join West Ham in race for Championship striker"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2016/12/05/palace-join-west-ham-race-championship-striker/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Bore"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2016-12-05T12:02:30Z"
modified: "2016-12-05T12:02:30Z"
---

# Palace join West Ham in race for Championship striker

Crystal Palace will go head-to-head with London rivals West Ham for [Newcastle United](https://readnewcastle.com/) striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the January transfer window, according to an exclusive from Harry Pratt of [The Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/739512/Newcastle-Exclusive-West-Ham-Crystal-Palace-battle-sign-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-News-Gossip).

Mitrovic, a man closely monitored by the likes of Benfica and Porto prior to his arrival in England, has netted five times this season – averaging a return of 112 minutes per goal – but has only started six times.

Pratt states both clubs have been alerted as Mitrovic is ‘still unable to command a regular place at St James’ Park’, but Mitrovic is far from out-of-favour as some may suggest.

Former Eagle Dwight Gayle has been Rafa Benitez’s preferred striker choice this season, but the modern-day Tinkerman – who once named different line-ups for over 100 successive games whilst at [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/) – regularly rotates between Gayle and Mitrovic to preserve the conditioning of the pair.

However, the season-ending injury to Connor Wickham added to the fitness issues of Loic Remy means Palace do look short of a striker and they could look to tempt Mitrovic.