Crystal Palace eyeing deadline day transfer for former Premier League forward: A puzzling move?

Crystal Palace have been linked with a surprise move for Stoke City forward Saido Berahino.

The former West Brom star has struggled following his move to Stoke, and according to the Sun, Palace manager Roy Hodgson is keen on a reunion with the Burundi international.

Since moving to Stoke in January 2017, Berahino has managed just five goals in 55 games for the Potters and has largely had a subpar spell in the Championship this season.

Berahino to Crystal Palace – We’re still scratching our heads

Really? That’s the best Hodgson could come up with? Granted, Hodgson worked with the player when the two were at West Brom, but considering the massive nosedive Berahino’s career has had, it’s a surprise Palace want him.

Hodgson obviously believes that he can change the player’s fortunes around and use him in the coming months.

But considering Palace have a very similar player in Jordan Ayew at the club, a potential move for Berahino makes absolutely no sense.

Palace have struggled for consistency this season and despite having a pretty good squad with a lot of potential, they just haven’t clicked together as a unit and have relied on individual flashes of brilliance this season.

The likes of Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have had their purple patches, but because of their Jekyll and Hyde nature, the side are still languishing at the wrong end of the table.

Berahino started his career with a lot of promise at West Brom and was a reliable player for the Baggies in the 2014/15 season. The forward scored 14 goals and played in all 38 league games that season.

However, a failed move to Tottenham in the subsequent summer sort of broke his momentum and he never recovered after that.

Berahino eventually moved to Stoke, but has had a forgettable spell there and was part of the squad that were relegated to the Championship in May 2018.

Christian Benteke, Connor Wickham and Jordan Ayew are all fit now, so how Berahino will get regular playing time to impress or make an impact is a bit puzzling, to be honest.