Pardew wants more strikers

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is close to securing a deal for Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede, according to the Mirror.

The Eagles boss, who signed Arsenal’s Yaya Sanogo on loan earlier this month, is keen to further bolster his attacking options even if the proposed deal for Gestede gets over this line.

Frazier Campbell, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh have managed just nine league goals between them so far this season, while club captain Mile Jedinak has himself chipped in with five.

Watford’s Troy Deeney and Khouma Babacar of Fiorentina have also been linked with a move to Selhurst Park, with Palace still just four points clear of the bottom three in the Premier League despite back to back league victories.

They turn their attention to their FA Cup fourth round tie with Southampton this weekend, before returning to league action with games against fellow strugglers Everton and Leicester City.