Revealed: Crystal Palace target club-record £20million swoop

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Published on:

05 Jan 2016, 11:57 am

By Chelsea correspondent Tony Hughes | Premier League expert with experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

Crystal Palace are eyeing a stunning £19.8million bid for Juventus striker Simone Zaza, Football Insider sources understand.

Alan Pardew's side have made enquiries over the availability of the 24-year-old as they look to bolster their attacking options following an impressive first half of the season.

A Palace source has told Football Insider that Zaza is on a shortlist of strikers targeted by the club in the January window following a disappointing return from their current roster of front men.

Connor Wickham, Fraizer Campbell, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh have scored just one Premier League goal between them this season, while Patrick Bamford has cut short his loan spell to return to Chelsea.

Italy international Zaza has made just three starts for Juventus this season, and only seven appearances in total, since his £12.6million switch from Sassulo last summer.

Alan Pardew is targeting a new striker in the January transfer window

Striking position: Alan Pardew wants a new spearhead in the January window

However, the Italy international, who has also attracted interest from West Ham and Norwich, is rated in the £20million-plus bracket by Juventus.

With Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata above him in the pecking order at the Serie A champions, Zaza could look to leave the club in the winter window in search of more regular first-team football.

Zaza, who has won seven caps for Italy, has not started for his country since a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria in March 2015 and will be hoping for more regular football in the second half of the campaign to ensure he is part of Antonio Conte's plans for Euro 2016.

Juventus

Chelsea FC

Norwich City

Crystal Palace

Simone Zaza