Crystal Palace have been pretty inactive in the transfer window thus far but things could get pretty interesting in the coming week or so as the club are eyeing a few deals.
Another player to be linked with a move to Selhurst Park is former Schalke 04 midfielder Max Meyer. The German international decided not to renew his contract with the Royal Blues and is still looking for a club.
Schalke have gained a bit of notoriety for letting players leave for free but Meyer’s case has surprised a few fans as he still hasn’t found a club. Palace don’t really have any number 10s currently in their club and Meyer could be a pretty good addition to the team.
Max Meyer – What will he add to Crystal Palace?
Meyer’s stats from last season will surprise quite a few readers. Despite being a natural number 10, he didn’t manage a single goal or an assist. Was it his fault? Not really.
For a few years now, Schalke have had Meyer but they didn’t have a single manager who used the setup to build a team around Meyer or have space for a number 10.
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Current Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco has used a three at the back setup with two midfielders and two wing backs. Meyer, despite being a creative player, was pushed back because of his distribution and ability to keep the game ticking from the deeper areas.
He was used in the role for just a single season and displayed good skills there as Schalke finished second to only Bayern Munich in the league table.
If Roy Hodgson is able to work with Meyer, the German could solve a couple of problems. Firstly, he’d solve the creativity issue because he is a natural number 10 more than anything else. Palace have good wingers and able forwards, but they’ve always lacked a creative number 10 who can provide the rest of the attackers the service.
And the second of course is the fact that Meyer can play in a withdrawal role as well. Alongside a good game-breaker or a number 6, he can play a box to box role which would be suited for teams that Palace are expected to compete with.
At 22, Meyer still has a lot of time on his hands and could be a very shrewd signing if Palace can manage to lure him in. Reports indicate that he hasn’t joined a club because of wage demands. If he expects a big pay structure then it’d be a problem for Palace.
