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Two Transfers Crystal Palace Are Expected To Complete In The Summer Including This Senegalese Defender

Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce

Two Players Who Crystal Palace Should Target In The Summer

Crystal Palace managed to secure their Premier League status after being embroiled in the relegation battle for long parts of the season. The Eagles finished the season at 14th place in the league table, thanks to a late resurgence under new manager Sam Allardyce.

While Big Sam may have been able to maintain his record of having never been relegated from the Premier League, he is experienced enough to know that he will need to strengthen the squad in the summer, if he is to guide his team to a better finish in the upcoming season. Reinforcements in the summer will be of paramount importance if Palace are to avoid a similar finish or even worse one next season.

And here are two players that they might look to bring in, in order to put up a better display next time around:

Kara Mbodji

The 27-year old RSC Anderlecht defender has been on the watch list for Crystal Palace for a long time now and it was even reported by Belgian outlet HLN that the Eagles had failed with a £10 million bid for the centre-back in January.

The Senegalese international has been a rock at the back for the Belgian outfit this season leading them to success in the Belgian league and a quarter-final finish in the UEFA Europa League. Mbodji has been of interest for Allardyce for a long time now and the former England boss also tried to sign him during his West Ham United days as well.

With Damien Delaney most likely to leave after his contract expiry in a month, Palace will need a strong and solid centre-half as they will be left with just Scott Dann and James Tomkins in that position. Mbodji is tall, strong and his performances against Manchester United in the Europa League is a hint that he would fit in the Premier League and will add great value to the Palace backline.

Jay Rodriguez

A strike partner for mainstay Christian Benteke has been on the minds of Allardyce for a long time now and Southampton’s 27-year old striker Jay Rodriguez could prove to be a smart addition.

The Englishman has fallen way down the pecking order following Manolo Gabbiadini’s arrival in the January transfer window with the likes of Shane Long and Charlie Austin ahead of him in the order of preference for manager Claude Puel. Rodriguez was playing some of his best football until last year when an injury ruled him out for almost the entire 2015-16 season and he has not been able to carve out a place under Puel this campaign.

A player with proven qualities at this level and with his best years approaching him, Rodriguez could prove to be the perfect foil for Benteke.

Jay Rodriguez
Jay Rodriguez