Crystal Palace could shore up their midfield with the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk defensive midfielder Taras Stepanenko, as per reports.
The Ukrainian midfielder is known for his robust and aggressive style of play.
As per the Sun, Stepanenko was a target for manager Roy Hodgson in the summer but the Premier League side could not complete a deal.
The report now states that Palace could buy the player in the January transfer window, with his reported fee being around £8 million.
The 30-year-old defensive midfielder has been a part of the Shakhtar side since 2010, winning seven Ukrainian Premier League titles with the team. Stepanenko has made over 270 appearances for his club, while also playing 54 times for the Ukrainian national team.
Stepanenko’s current contract with Shakhtar expires in 2022, but the experienced player could leave the club soon.
Palace have money to spend as they spent very little money from the Aaron Wan-Bissaka sale.
What will Taras Stepanenko add to the side?
Stepanenko is a hard-tackling, aggressive defensive midfielder, who sits in front of his side’s defence and is good at winning the second balls and proving more protection for the back four.
The experienced player gets into good positions to retrieve the ball from the opposition, and reads the game well.
The Ukrainian is strong in the air despite being just under six-feet tall. Stepanenko is a player who does the dirty work in midfield, while also being able to pass the ball to teammates who can move it forward.
Hodgson currently has a few options in midfield. Captain Luka Milivojevic usually starts alongside Cheikhou Kouyaté and one of James McArthur or James McCarthy. Stepanenko may offer something different to Hodgson’s current options as he is a hard-tackling midfielder who adds aggression and steel to the middle of the park.
The former England manager needs a player who can intercept the ball and retrieve it from the opposition, which may be missing at the moment. Hodgson needs to strengthen in all areas of the pitch, and the potential sale of Zaha could help Palace rebuild their squad, which could happen in January.
