Crystal Palace have been quiet in the transfer window, completing just two signings – Jordan Ayew and goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, despite receiving £45 million from the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Manager Roy Hodgson is reportedly keen on signing Gary Cahill, who is currently a free agent, to bolster his defence and add more experience to his side.
Cahill, who left Chelsea after 8 seasons with the club, is being courted by West Ham United and Burnley, apart from Crystal Palace, according to Daily Mail.
The former England international’s contract with Chelsea expired at the end of the 2018-19 season, a season where he played just 8 times.
Cahill made 290 appearances for the Blues, winning two Premier League titles and Europa titles, as well as one Champions League title.
The former Chelsea captain, who previously played for Aston Villa and Bolton in the Premier League, has made 349 appearances in the English top-flight.
Would Cahill be a good option for Hodgson?
Hodgson needs to strengthen the Eagles’ squad quickly, with the transfer window set to shut in under a week. With teams like Aston Villa splashing the cash to sign several players, and other teams in the Premier League also spending a lot of money on new players, Palace must also add quality to their squad to compete and stay in the league.
Signing Cahill would be a shrewd move by Hodgson as the 33-year-old has experience of not only playing in the Premier League, but also playing at a high level at Chelsea.
The Englishman will add depth, leadership, and quality to the Palace defence, that let in 53 goals last time around.
Hodgson currently have central defenders who are either not good enough or inconsistent, and the addition of Cahill could solve that problem.
Cahill is a technically gifted player, who is good on the floor as well as the air, and is a threat in both boxes. He may not be match fit as he missed the majority of last season, while he has also not taken part in pre-season training.
But, the signing of Cahill would also be one with little risk as he will arrive on a free transfer, but it remains to be seen if Palace will be willing to pay his huge wages.
