Sam Allardyce is working wonders with the current Crystal Palace squad as he is now on the verge of taking them close to a place in the top half of the table, after an astonishingly mediocre campaign. The manager is expected to take the club into the next Premier League season and he will surely be given enough budget to get some quality stars to the squad in the summer.
And one player that Sam Allardyce is reportedly eyeing for a move at the end of the season is Italian striker Diego Falcinelli. Who is this new name on Palace’s radar? What will he add to their squad? Here is a peek into his scout report:
Born in Marsciano, Italy, the 25-year-old spent a year on loan at the San Siro academy before completing a permanent switch to Sassuolo in 2009 from his boyhood club Pontevecchio. In his time at Mapei stadium, Falcinelli has failed to cement a place in the first team, making just 28 appearances, and spending five seasons out on loan at different clubs in Europe.
He joined Crotone from Sassuolo at the start of the season and has been in sublime form, and has caught the attention of the English outfit.
In his 33 appearances for Crotone in all competitions, Falcinelli has nine goals and two assists to his name and is now a player that his parent club will want to push into their first team. He is still firmly in the plans at Sassuolo and signed a contract extension till 2020 at the start of the previous year but it is understood that his lack of playing time at the club might see him quit for a new challenge in England. Tony Pulis from West Brom is also reportedly interested but what will Falcinelli add to the Selhurst outfit next season?
A genuine centre-forward who can lead the attack for his side, Falcinelli has enough experience in standing as the lone striker and is a player who knows his way to goal. At 25, he may not be one of the young starlets around in Europe but already has more than 200 league appearances and is an experienced attacker.
He is a strong player who loves to have the ball at his feet and though he is not too adept at holding the ball up, he is more than capable of creating chances in the final third. Ariel duels is also not an area he thrives in but Falcinelli is sure to put himself around when needed.
He is a quick, athletic footballer who loves to draw fouls in dangerous areas. Neither an astonishing dribbler nor a sumptuous passer, Falcinelli is a utility player who can add some flair to the attack at the Selhurst Park and coming at just around £2m this summer, Falcinelli is surely a decent option for Crystal Palace who have Christian Benteke as their only real option in a number 9 role this season.
He is quite opposite in playing style to the Belgian and that versatility might also help Palace next season. Surely, the Eagles need attacking quality from the bench and if Allardyce is convinced that Falcinelli can be an option for them next season, they should not waste too much time in getting him to London. Do you think Diego Falcinelli is the right choice for Crystal Palace this summer?
