Crystal Palace are having a roller coaster season this time around, pretty much what you expect from a team managed by Alan Pardew. A good run of form followed by a horrendous spell, Pardew still looks clueless about how to find results on a consistent basis. Not that they lack the quality though.
The Eagles thrashed a strong side like Southampton 3-0 on Saturday but don’t be amused if they lose points against struggling Hull City in the coming weekend.
Crystal Palace have not struggled for goals this season. Outside the current top four, the South London club have scored the most number of goals along with fifth-placed Spurs. It is their defending that has let them down. Only West Ham, Hull City and Sunderland have conceded more than them. In such circumstances, a fan would demand Pardew to go for defensive reinforcements in January transfer window which is about to open in less than one month but Pardew has other ideas.
Express Sport claims that Pardew’s prime target in January is Newcastle United forward Aleksandar Mitrovic who also is a West Ham United target. The 22-year-old has scored five times this season for Rafael Benitez’s Championship pacesetters but is still unable to command a regular place at the Tyneside club. The Magpies are unlikely to let the Serb go in January but might be tempted to selling if they receive an incredibly good offer.
Mitrovic made his move to England last summer with Newcastle when they were in the Premier League. Expectations were sky-high from the young Serb who caught the eye at Partizan and Anderlecht at a very young age.
However, despite all his talent, he found life in the Premier League really hard and had an underwhelming season. Still only 22, he still has a big future ahead of him and can prove to be a big success in future.
Mitrovic has scored 3 goals and set up 2 for his teammates from just 432 minutes playing time and under a manager like Rafael Benitez, he can reach his true potential. I do not clearly see any point of why a player would leave the association of playing under a manager like Benitez to play under Pardew. Newcastle fans know the difference between the two managers and that could make a big impact on the striker’s decision.
Mitrovic is a menace in the air. There are very few players who have a command on aerial balls like the Serb does. He is a deadly finisher and has improved his positioning and work rate which let him down last season in the Premier League. But, Newcastle’s promotion seems all but certain and Mitrovic does feel loved by the fans. There is no way he will leave St. James’ Park for Crystal Palace.
