Crystal Palace are in contention for the signature of Gaetan Laborde, according to reports. The Bordeaux striker has never played outside the country and is reportedly ready to move out. It is believed that he is interested in the offer from the English side and wants to go through with the deal being offered at Palace.
The 23-year-old French forward who can also play as a left winger had a bad start to the season when he was ruled out until October with an injury. Upon his return he has played eleven games for the club, scoring two goals in the process.
Speaking to the media, he has said, “I don’t let it bother me, but it’s true that it’s flattering. It adds to your confidence. It’s always good to be followed by clubs like that. They’re two big clubs, but to go as far as saying there were official bids… I don’t know anything more and I don’t want to think about it too much. I’m at Bordeaux and there’s a lot of important stuff coming up. I’m focused on that. I have an agent that deals with the rest.”
As for Palace, they have had their own drama to deal with. Crystal Palace had the worst possible start to the season. After the first seven-game weeks, the team was sitting on zero points having lost all seven matches. It eventually led to the sacking of manager Frank De Boer and the Dutchman was replaced by Roy Hodgson. The change did not have an immediate effect but the big turnaround came with a win against champions Chelsea.
A turnaround of sorts has come since then and Palace are now standing on the 13th spot on the Premier League table. The Palace players who had been inconsistent and unimpressive, to say the least, are showing signs of hard work and churning out decent performances.
However, as was proven with his return, missing Christian Benteke was not the only reason for the club suffering this season as even after his comeback; the Belgian has not been able to replicate his old form. The striker who was tipped to lead the frontline of the talented Belgian team has lost his way and has been replaced by Romelu Lukaku in the national set-up.
It now seems he is also ready to lose his place in the Palace line up should Laborde board the plane to London.
