Palace have seen plenty of January departures in 2019, but are yet to make a signing onto the books at the club.
So far, each transfer out has been both thoughtful and tactical. Ageing midfielder Jason Puncheon has been sent to Huddersfield on loan, presumably in lieu of a permanent move down the football pyramid, or termination of his contract, which expires in June of this year.
In addition, year-long flop Alexander Sørloth has been loaned to Belgian Pro League outfit KAA Gent to try and find his feet.
Jonny Williams has joined Charlton permanently after what seems like a lifetime on the bench with his potential somewhat squandered.
While some good business has been done in clearing deadwood, or players surplus to requirements, here are three highly skilled, yet attainable players who would bolster the Palace squad towards the end of the campaign.
Divock Origi – Striker
It seems like Divock Origi has been around forever, but believe it or not he’s still only 23 years old.
The centre-forward is currently on the books for Liverpool and has been officially since 2014, despite being pushed around on loan to his old club LOSC Lille and VFL Wolfsburg. In five years he has made a paltry 81 appearances for the Reds, scoring 23 goals.
In the current season, he has made it to the pitch only five times, scoring three goals. In any other Premier League team, barring the top six, he would have probably been given a start for his efforts.
The fact remains however that, try as he might, the Belgian will never win a permanent place in Liverpool’s front three over Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mané.
He has played only 72 minutes in the league this season and seems in perilous danger of being yet another floundering talent in the game, shipped to a European giant too early in his career. A loan move to a smaller team could be the most sensible step to get back on track.
While Palace probably wouldn’t be able to nab such a promising young player on a permanent basis, Origi is certainly a player Roy Hodgson should be looking to acquire for at least the next five months.
The Eagles lack a truly potent centre-forward option, and can’t continue playing Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend in makeshift roles at the expense of valuable link-up play down the wings that the duo could otherwise provide.
James Ward-Prowse – Central midfielder
Ever since Yohan Cabaye left for Saudi Arabia, an unquestionable void has existed in Palace’s midfield. Previously, Luka Milivojevic in a defensive position and Cabaye in a more advanced role would link-up clinically, converting dangerous balls into opportunistic ones.
The goals and assists disappeared from Cabaye’s game in his last season for Palace, but what is undeniable is the team are still lacking a creative spark, someone willing to put in the work down the centre of the pitch and crossing lengthways from box-to-box.
Max Meyer was brought in to do exactly this, but despite being highly rated by the media, he has failed to bring more than a marginal benefit to results.
What Palace need, at least until Meyer has settled, is a proven, Premier League-quality midfield technician, in the vein of N’Golo Kanté or Kevin de Bruyne.
James Ward-Prowse provides exactly these qualities. Currently plying his trade at relegation-bound Southampton, the once England prospect has been left somewhat isolated in a team built on defensive care and solidity.
The introduction of Ralph Hasenhüttl as manager could mean Ward-Prowse is used more effectively in the coming months, and will, therefore, be held more tightly by Southampton in the summer, come relegation or not.
The time is now, and only now, for Palace to pick up this experienced and adept midfield general who could provide the necessary balance between a ‘sweeper’ in Milivojevic and the more central Cheikhou Kouyaté, who is unlikely to chip in with many goals or assists.
He is an affordable and safe option, who could add both structure and valuable knowledge of the English game to a Palace side whose midfield worries can often be as pronounced as their upfield ones.
Nathan Redmond – Right winger
Another player from Southampton, Redmond plays a similar game to Andros Townsend, providing crucial goals and assists, but also consistent and effective off-the-ball work which hugely benefits a team’s structure.
He played 37 times for the Saints in the season 2016/17, but his league appearances have dropped since. While he may recoup that tally this season, he has only scored two goals so far, and three years ago he netted seven times.
His decline in form is due in part to instability and a loss of identity at St. Mary’s over the years, perhaps showing that he should have considered joining other interested clubs when his stock was flying high at Norwich.
At Selhurst Park, not only would be provided with a measure of safety from relegation, but he would introduce some much-needed competition amongst a Palace attack which, whilst loved by fans, have been guilty of complacent patches and injuries at important times, particularly in past seasons.
Redmond’s presence may press Townsend, Meyer and Schlupp to raise their own games. It would provide a more solid rotation option for Hodgson when choosing his 18 on a matchday, instead of having to stick the likes of Jairo Riedewald on the bench.
A front three of Zaha, Redmond and Benteke, all on top-form, would strike fear into most Premier League defences.
Whoever Palace sign in January 2019, if indeed they decide to sign anybody, their outgoings so far have been beneficial and their squad is strong enough to last through until May relatively safely. Hodgson’s transfer business thus far has been both conservative and sensible; unlike others, he only spends in areas where the Eagles need it most.
