Cahill favours London stay – how much would he improve Palace?

Gary Cahill would be a strong short-term signing for Crystal Palace, should a deal be completed in the coming days.

The summer transfer window ends in England on Thursday evening, in time for the new Premier League season.

According to Sutton & Croydon Guardian, Cahill favours staying in London, where he is currently a free agent after leaving Chelsea.

Read Crystal Palace Verdict

It is a positive piece of news when it comes to Palace attempting to bring the 33-year-old to the club, in a move that makes total sense for all parties.

Admittedly, there is a strong argument that Cahill’s best days are behind him, but he still has plenty left in the tank.

While his days of being a key man for both a top four club and England are over, he could improve the organisation and quality within Palace’s defence significantly.

The Eagles shipped 53 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, highlighting what a weak area it was.

Cahill’s experience would immediately help eradicate that issue, although his ageing legs would require pace around him.

It may be that he only comes in as a squad player, but his experience and winning mentality would immediately make Palace stronger.