Crystal Palace have officially parted ways with Yohan Cabaye as both sides failed to agree on a new contract. The Frenchman was one of the club’s highest earners but was offered a deal with a pay cut which was unacceptable to him. Now he has been unveiled as Al Nasr’s new marquee signing on a two-year contract.
Cabaye has decided to face a new challenge in the United Arab Emirates where he will be one of the club’s highest earners. Losing him could potentially place a huge threat on Palace’s Premier League status in the coming season as he arguably was Roy Hodgson’s best creative head.
The Eagles were already in trouble last season with relegation concerns but the former England head coach managed to guide the side to a safe spot, late into the 2017/18 campaign. Cabaye was instrumental to their cause and had manned the Eagles midfield for the past 3 seasons with over 100 appearances registered to his name.
He operated in front of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur to formulate the club’s attack and to constantly supply balls in the final third for Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke to feed on.
With Jason Puncheon still nursing back from his injury, Palace does not have a replacement for Cabaye in the club ranks and will definitely have to find a replacement ahead of the 2018/19 season. They have only signed Vicente Guaita from Getafe till date.
Here are a few names Hodgson should strongly consider.
Stefano Sturaro
Juventus are ready to sell the 25-year-old but have set an asking price of £18m. He is not favoured by Massimiliano Allegri in Turin and could well be on his way out of the club in order to make way for other younger talents.
The central midfielder has 4 caps to his name for Italy and has a brilliant sense of formulating attacks. He has a deft touch on the ball but also puts in the time on the defensive end of the pitch.
Kevin Prince-Boateng
Once a huge figure in the AC Milan ranks and in the Ghana national team, Kevin Prince-Boateng is certainly a player to make you sit up from your couch. The 31-year-old currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt with a contract set to run for another two seasons.
He had made 36 appearances last term and delivered with 6 goals and 2 assists.
Read More: Newcastle United Interested In £18m Rated Crystal Palace Winger: Should The Eagles Let Him Leave?
Pontus Wernbloom
He is currently in the market as a free agent after spending the past 6 seasons with Spartak Moscow. He had appeared in 36 games last season and was directly involved in 12 of the Russian outfit’s goals.
