It has been an eventful transfer window for Crystal Palace as the Eagles brought in four new players in the form of Andros Townsend, Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins and most recently Christian Benteke. On the other hand, players like Dwight Gayle, Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak headed out of Selhurst Park this summer. With the transfer window slamming closed in a week, there are still a few areas those needs to be improved at the South London club and central midfield is one of those departments.
Crystal Palace have joined Southampton and Hull in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Mason, according to The Daily Mirror. With Mile Jedinak’s departure, there is a big void to fill in the middle of the park. Adding a new and capable central midfielder will boost the South London club big time and Mason fits the bill perfectly.
Even though Crystal Palace have four central midfielders right now in Yohan Cabaye, Joe Ledley, James McArthur and Jordan Mutch, Mason trumps each of them with his quality. A box to box midfielder with a tremendous work rate, someone who can create as well as score goals, tracks back to help out his defenders- Mason is an orthodox box to box midfielder and can be a big success at South London.
You have to feel sorry for the 25-year-old who gave his everything to get his chance at his boyhood club Spurs and when he got it, he made sure that his place is well-cemented at White Hart Lane. A series of loan spells out of the club awaited him but still Mason kept on working in forcing his way to the first-team of the Lilywhites. You have to salute the English international’s strong determination.
Mason rose to prominence in Pochettino’s first season at the club, when his sublime form earned him a call-up to the England senior squad but fell down the pecking order last season. Dele Alli’s emergence, Eric Dier establishing himself in a defensive midfield role, Dembele’s improvement in form- these three things added coupled with Mason’s injury troubles last season worked against the 25-year-old and it unlucky that the English international is now forced out of the club.
Just aged 25, Mason can be a long-term project at Selhurst Park and his quality is undisputed. Alan Pardew must use this opportunity to get a player of the Englishman’s calibre at Selhurst Park. With a lot to prove, Mason won’t let the Eagles down if they show their belief in the tenacious midfielder.
