Crystal Palace are reportedly going all out for West Ham United’s Adrian after reportedly missing out on Barcelona’s second choice Jasper Cillessen. The Spaniard is expected to see lesser chances at the London Stadium next season after the arrival of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on a season-long loan.
Adrian has had a pretty underwhelming season under the bar for the Hammers last term and he was ultimately replaced by Randolph. However, the 30-year-old still has a large number of suitors in the likes of Palace, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford. And the London club is likely to have an edge over the other competitors in landing him.
The Eagles had a nightmarish season in the league as they survived relegation by the skin of their teeth. They conceded a whopping 63 goals in 38 games but former manager Sam Allardyce had held their first choice keeper Wayne Hennessey in high regards. The English boss didn’t see Palace’s poor form as their goalkeeper’s mistake rather their backline’s fault.
Palace did have a pathetic back four in the likes of Scott Dann, James Tomkins, Joel Ward and more. Allardyce had to bring in Patrick Van Aanholt from Sunderland, Jefferey Schlupp from Leicester City and Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool on loan. But, by that time, Hennessey had already conceded many and he ended the season with 46 goals in 29 appearances.
Even if Adrian arrives at Selhurst Park, the shot stopper will have to fight for a place with a gigantic presence of Hennessey ahead of him in the pecking order. Adrian had started the season as Slaven Bilic’s first choice before his inconsistency forced Bilic to go for Randolph. Randolph, who had appeared in EFL Cup and FA Cup games took the opportunity nicely and ended the season conceding 39 goals in 22 games as opposed to Adrian’s 25 goals in 16 appearances.
Frank De Boer is already under huge pressure to perform at Palace after his first managerial stint outside AFC Ajax ended in a disappointment with Inter Milan. He is unlikely to go with many options, who are unproven in the Premier League, and the pursuit of Adrian indicates it.
An academy product of Real Betis, Adrian was a first choice for the club’s B-side for long before he was taken up by the senior squad. West Ham United took him up in 2013 and since then he has conceded 176 goals in 123 games with a decent 33 shutouts.
