When Roy Hodgson took over the charges of Crystal Palace after the short-lived of Frank de Boer, the Eagles were languishing in the Premier League with no points from four games. Although Hodgson’s start failed to be a decent one, after he lost his first three games, the scenario after that has been steadily improving and it is quite intriguing to see the manner in which the side has been performing of late under his stewardship.
Crystal Palace have collected 18 points from their last 12 games in the English top flight and are currently placed at the 16th spot in the league table, 2 points above the relegation zone. Their next two games, which are against two Premier League heavyweights in Arsenal and Manchester City, are definitely going to test their mettle, but as of now, they have ceased to be a timorous side and should be looking to keep the momentum up and running.
The second half of the season is expected to be a tricky one as all the sides would try to perform to the best of their potential. However, during the January transfer window, we expect the London-based club to be quite busy in refuelling their armoury so that they have the requite ammunition to stay inside the rendezvous point. As per one of the latest reports by the Sun, Crystal Palace are keen to make a move for Ipswich Town’s goalkeeper, Bartosz Bialkowski, in January.
Bialkowski has been the first-choice keeper in the Championship for the Tractor Boys, having played all of their 23 games in the league. In the process, he has collected 6 clean sheets and has made 2.65 saves per game on an average. The Sun understands that signing a new goalkeeper is a priority for Hodgson next month, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kevin Trapp at the top of their wish-list, but if the deal fails, Bialkowski is expected to be the one who is to be pursued by him.
The Polish goalie is an experienced goalkeeper, having plied his trade for the likes of Notts County and Southampton. Bialkowski’s contract with Ipswich Town expires in the summer, although his current club have the option to extend it for a further year.
The chance of playing in the Premier League is undoubtedly going to send a shiver down the spine of the 30-year-old and it would be interesting to see whether he is eventually lured to the Selhurst Park or not.
Statistics Credits: Squawka
