Why Bacary Sagna Is The Right Addition To The Crystal Palace Backline
The Premier League was tough on a number of teams last season and Crystal Palace managed to avoid the jaws of relegation, thanks to a later surge under Sam Allardyce which saw them beat some of the best teams in the league.
The Eagles did not finish as high as they would have wanted to and with Sam Allardyce quitting the club after helping them to safety, they have a chance to start from the scratch and maybe fight for a place in the top half of the table. They are busy finding the right manager for their club but are also looking at possible additions to their squad before the start of the next season.
While they have a decent attack at their disposal, Crystal Palace have a defensive line that needs to be repaired and it is understood that they are looking at Manchester City outcast Bacary Sagna to add some experience to their lineup.
The former Arsenal man played 25 games for Pep Guardiola’s side last season but at 34, he is no longer in the plans of the Spaniard and is now a free agent. Palace are one of the many clubs interested in his signature and they seem most suited to add Sagna to their armory.
Capable of also playing as a centre back, Sagna is a right back by trait, who loves to jump forward at every opportunity. He is strong and a good reader of the game and even at his age, can play regularly next season. His experience is what Palace would do well add to their squad for the challenges ahead.
Joel Ward and Martin Kelly have played extensively in that role and have been decent but Kelly is more of a centre-back and Ward hardly has any replacement in the first team for the new season. At 27, he is one of the most experienced players in this role in England but Sagna is better than him.
The French full-back is a good mixture of attacking intent and defensive discipline and is a player who will improve most of the teams in the league. Even as a backup to Ward, he is a player who will push him for first team chances and his versatility can help the new Palace manager cover the contingencies at the heart of the defence as well.
Palace need to add some quality to their backline and Sagna is one player who can assure that. His experience at the highest level can help the Eagles take the next step in the upcoming season.