Crystal Palace have had yet another good year in the Premier League and will finish in the 12th or 13th place in the league, which is a decent performance for a club that was staring at relegation last year. Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who took over as the manager in 2017, has put together a team that is difficult to beat, especially away from home where they have taken 29 points from 19 games.
It seems that the ambitious London club want to go further up the table next year and have been linked with Everton’s James McCarthy, to strengthen their midfield, as per Daily Mail. McCarthy has featured only once this season for Everton as he hasn’t got back in the reckoning after his 15-month spell on the sidelines which was the result of a double leg fracture.
McCarthy was signed by Everton for £13 million, but he may be available for a much lesser sum than that considering he has just one year left on his current contract with the Toffees. With the likes of Tom Davies, Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin ahead of him in the pecking order along with plans in place to sign Andre Gomes on a permanent deal, it seems that the Irish international’s time at the Goodison Park might finally come to a close.
What will James McCarthy add to Crystal Palace?
McCarthy is a combative midfielder who brings Premier League experience and leadership to the table. He may not be the best passer or score a lot of goals, but McCarthy is a steady hand in midfield, putting out fires, helping his back four and moving play along.
What Palace can expect from McCarthy is tackles and clearances, as well as the occasional driving run into the opponent’s half.
Palace, currently, have a few options in midfield, and at the forefront is captain Luka Milivojevic, who has scored 12 goals this season, while summer signing Cheikhou Kouyaté brings power and muscle to the London club’s midfield. James McArthur (31), who will know McCarthy well having played with him at Scottish side Hamilton, as well as English side Wigan Athletic, has been another option for Palace this season.
McCarthy will be a useful squad player for the Eagles who require a midfielder to give Hodgson more options in the centre of the park as they look to get off to a good start next season and hopefully build something substantial thereon in.