Crystal Palace have finally found some stability in their Premier League campaign as Sam Allardyce saw his men win three games on the trot for the first time since the early stages of the season when Alan Pardew’s side had won against Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Sunderland in September.
The Eagles are currently sitting in the 16th position of the Premier League table just four points above the relegation zone, as Allardyce looks to strengthen his reputation of a specialist in saving clubs from relegation. The former England manager brought in some heavy defensive reinforcements last winter that has finally got the team back to winning ways.
Palace have lost 16 of the 28 games they have played so far, conceding 46 goals and clearly, they are extremely lucky to remain out of the dreaded relegation zone. Allardyce wouldn’t want to start their next campaign making the same mistakes his predecessor Alan Pardew did. Despite bringing in two left-backs in the winter, he is looking to add more.
Palace started the season with one good left-back in Papa Ndiaye Souare, who was sidelined for the whole season as early as September. Pardew had to replace him with right-backs Joel Ward and Martin Kelly, throughout the first half of the season, who were not comfortable in that position and the result showed it. Now, with Jeffrey Schlupp and Patrick van Aanholt playing there, Palace look much more balanced.
And it seems like Allardyce also wants to secure the signature of Galatasaray full-back Lionel Carole this transfer window to further bolster it. The Eagle had attempted to bring him in earlier with an opening bid of £3 million, which was rejected by the club. Galatasaray has labelled their full-back at an asking price of £6m.
Reportedly, Palace are willing to increase their offer to the asked price for the 25-year-old French international. Carole has been a regular for the Turkish giants this season, where he has managed to assist twice from the left flank in 22 appearances. A left-back by nature, Carole can also play in an advanced role on the wings as well as through the midfield; something van Aanholt is often seen doing under Allardyce now.
An academy product of French side FC Nantes, Carole moved to Portuguese side Benfica from where he spent some time on a loan stint with French third tier side CS Sedan-Ardennes. A series of unimpressive spells led to him being sold in a free transfer to French side ES Troyes AC, where he gained some ground and finally Galatasaray finally picked him up in 2015.
