Why Crystal Palace should sign free agent Danny Simpson

According to a report from The Sun, Crystal Palace are eyeing a swoop for free agent Danny Simpson.

Danny Simpson, 32, was released by Leicester City at the end of last season and can, therefore, sign for any club, including Crystal Palace, after Thursday’s transfer deadline. He played only games across all competitions last season as Ricardo Pereira was preferred ahead of him at right-back.

Crystal Palace missed a glorious opportunity to sign a striker after their goalscoring conundrum last season. Yet, Roy Hodgson will be mightily pleased with how the summer transfer window panned out, especially the deadline day.

Gary Cahill joined the Eagles on a free transfer, while James McCarthy has been signed on a £3m deal from Everton. Palace did also bring Victor Camarasa on a season-long loan from Real Betis, but the biggest victory for Hodgson and co. would have been to keep hold of Wilfried Zaha amidst huge interest from Everton.

However, Hodgson’s side did lose one of their last season’s standout performers in Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United.

The Palace head coach did strive hard to bring in a replacement for Wan-Bissaka, looking at Rennes’ Hamari Traore on the deadline day. But nothing materialised and as things stand, Palace could start with Joel Ward at right-back.

Ward has played very less for Palace in the last couple of seasons and it would arguably be a huge gamble, and potentially a mistake, to rely on him to be first-choice heading into next season. But the Eagles do have the option of scouring the free agency market and they could do a good job by snapping up Danny Simpson.

Simpson may be edging towards the twilight of his career, but with Hodgson failing to find a long-term replacement for Wan-Bissaka in the summer transfer window, a move for Simpson could a very good option.

He has also played Premier League football for Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester, with whom he won the title in 2016. So, the 32-year-old has no shortage of experience.

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The Eccles-born defender will be a cheap, short-term solution for Hodgson’s side. At 32, he certainly can give a couple of quality years and also has that physical side to his game which would stand him in good stead in the Premier League.

Verdict

The Eagles’ situation is extremely dire in terms of options at right-back, and almost any signing would be a welcome addition. Thus, Hodgson should quickly snap up Simpson on a short-term deal.