Crystal Palace Refuse To Give Up Chase For 22 Y/O English Star: A Smart Move By Hodgson?

Crystal Palace have joined the race to sign Jack Grealish, according to Mirror. The Eagles are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in the pursuit of the Aston Villa star, who could be angling for a move away from Villa Park this summer.

While Aston Villa’s woes have been momentarily eased with the intervention of NSWE, a company that is jointly owned and controlled by businessman Nassef Sawiris’ group, NNS and businessman Wesley Edens, there is the matter of Steve Bruce’s future at the club and the need for things to settle down with the season starting early next month.

Both Crystal Palace and Fulham are believed to have enquired about the 22-year-old, with the latter, in particular, keen on signing him up as a Wilfried Zaha replacement.

The former Manchester United starlet has been highly linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this summer, following four years of services, during which he has been a huge asset for the club. Ironically, Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in his services, leaving Palace in search of an adequate replacement as they aim to beef up their attack this summer.

Grealish, on the other hand, has been one of the most prominent players in the Aston Villa lineup for the past couple of seasons. After making his Premier League breakthrough in the 2014/15 campaign, the English attacker has since featured in over 100 competitive matches for the Villans, scoring nine goals whilst providing 15 assists.

Even though he hasn’t been able to make a massive impression in the Championship, the 22-year-old could definitely prove to be a smart addition for Crystal Palace. A dynamic operator in the final third, Grealish may not have the same pace or scoring prowess but what he lacks in finishing, he makes up for it with his relentless determination from wider positions.

What makes him such an appealing target for Palace, however, is the fact that he is a versatile attacker, who can operate as a winger as well as an attacking midfield, making him an ideal fit in Roy Hodgson’s squad.

To add to that, a move to Selhurst Park could also be a prudent move from the player’s perspective, given the fact that he will able to secure more game time at Palace than he usually would at Tottenham who are believed to be the frontrunners.

Stats Courtesy: Whoscored