Crystal Palace have managed to spend good money in the last few transfer windows. The signings of Yohan Cabaye, Christian Benteke, and Andros Townsend all speak volumes about the intent of the owners and where they want to see the club in the future. However, despite all the backing from the owners, the South London club have not really made real progress.
The key reason behind that is their inconsistency. Just when it seems that Crystal Palace might break into the top eight after a good run of form, their good run again dries up and that has been the case again and again.
Crystal Palace need more creativity in their side and Alan Pardew has identified that if the rumour mill is to be believed. As per The Daily Star, Palace are looking to bring Marseille wonder kid Maxime Lopez to Selhurst Park on a loan deal. Christened as the ‘Next Samir Nasri’ in his homeland, Lopez is right now one of the biggest talents emerging in France and is regarded as the future of Marseille. A loan to Crystal Palace might be beneficial for the growth of the 18-year-old.
Lopez has only just broken into the Marseille first team under new manager Rudi Garcia, who sees him as a key part of the club’s future. He just has five senior appearances to his name so far and only twice, he has played throughout the 90 minutes. Despite spending so little amount of time on the pitch, the 18-year-old has clearly stated what he is capable of doing if he is groomed well.
Lopez graduated from the academy of Olympique de Marseille just like the player he is often being compared to, Samir Nasri. Lopez has a frame of just 5 ft 5 1⁄2 in but uses his small stature to his own advantage like Mathieu Valbuena. The youngster’s low centre of gravity helps him maintain his balance as he weaves past defenders.
Technically a number ten, Lopez has brilliant vision for a player who is just 18 and has played just five games till date. He has registered 1 Ligue assist this campaign and has played 1.3 key passes every game. His overall passing accuracy is 88% while the youngster has played 2.3 successful long balls every game. Lopez’s ability to create opportunities especially with long balls, will be loved by Christian Benteke who is a menace in the air.
However, we are skeptical about the deal simply because of the fact that we are struggling to understand why Marseille will send him out on loan to Crystal Palace!
The French club have hardly managed to keep any of their academy products at the club for a long time. Bigger clubs have always poached talents from Stade Vélodrome and Lopez seems like the next big thing coming out of their academy. He is getting regular first team football at Marseille. Then why would Marseille let him join Crystal Palace on loan and alert bigger clubs of his talent?
Pardew should look for players on a permanent deal rather than taking an unproven youngster like Lopez on loan. Crystal Palace backed Pardew even during the shockingly poor second half of last season and things have hardly changed due to the transfer policy.
