Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is showing real ambition in his bid to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign
Crystal Palace have become a very well run club in the past couple of years, having suffered severe financial problems in the past.
This summer they are showing tremendous ambition in their transfer business, just like they did last summer.
The Eagles have already captured England international winger Andros Townsend for a fee of around £14million and also signed French international ‘keeper Steve Mandanda from Marseille on a free transfer, despite the player being linked with Chelsea and Everton.
Those moves do not seem that big, well not for a Premier League club, but the fact that they are believed to be in talks to sign West Ham defender James Tomkins for £12.5 million and Liverpool striker Christian Benteke for £31million would suggest the Eagles mean business in the transfer market this summer.
Palace’s transfer deals showing the power of EPL money
Crystal Palace spending close to £60million on players in the past would have been unthinkable, but the new Premier League television deal has made clubs like Palace richer than ever before. No more financial problems at Selhurst Park that is for sure.
The signing of Benteke could prove to be a head-turner. The striker is a very good Premier League striker and when his team plays to his strengths can be completely unplayable.
The Belgian striker does not fit into Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s passing style. However at Aston Villa the striker proved he can score goals and if Palace pulls the deal off it could be a major coup for Alan Pardew’s team.
The signing of Mandanda is also an impressive one, considering that the Eagles had such competition for the highly-rated ‘keepers signing. No disrespect to Palace, but no way would a player of the calibre of Mandanda chose to ply his trade at Selhurst Park five years ago.
His French international teammate Yohan Cabaye chose a somewhat surprising move to Palace last summer, because he wanted to move back to the Premier League. It has proven a good move for everybody involved.
These sorts of signings show how far Palace have come in the last five years, but also show that even mid-level Premier League clubs can sign high-profile players.
Palace showed potential last season
Last season Crystal Palace made a highly-impressive start to their Premier League campaign. There was talk of the Eagles gate-crashing the top-six, even the top-four, but around Christmas time their form fell off the edge of a cliff.
It was notable that many of the games that Palace struggled in were when star winger Yannick Bolasie was sidelined through injury. The Eagles have now strengthened in the wide positions with the signing of Townsend, who could prove to be a shrewd buy.
Alan Pardew’s side played some really good football at the beginning of the campaign and showed the potential that there is in the Eagles team. Their run to the FA Cup final also showed that the team could be going places.
Former-Newcastle boss Pardew has obviously been backed by the clubs hierarchy in the transfer market this summer. If he can add depth and a few more quality players to his squad then Eagles fans could be in for an extremely exciting campaign.
What are realistic expectations for Palace next season?
Crystal Palace’s collapse in the second half of the Premier League campaign saw them finish 15th in the Premier League table, five points above the relegation zone. No doubt Eagles fans will be hoping for better next season.
Pardew’s side are odds of 11/2 to be relegated in the new campaign, but that seems an unlikely prospect as they already have enough quality in their ranks to be comfortably midtable.
The likes of Yohan Cabaye, Yannick Bolasie and Andros Townsend add a touch of flair to an otherwise hard-working Eagles team. With the prospect of quality signings arriving, Alan Pardew’s side should be looking up rather than down.
Pardew is not a terrible boss and the style of football that he is attempting to produce at Selhurst Park is admirable. Hopefully they can keeping showing ambition in the transfer market and strengthen what is already a very decent Premier League team this summer.
What are the realistic ambitions for Crystal Palace next season?
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