Sources: Crystal Palace make January striker signing U-turn after big development
Crystal Palace are set to scrap January plans to sign a striker following Cheick Doucoure’s potentially season-ending injury, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (4 December) that Doucoure, 23, could be out for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign after suffering an Achilles tendon injury.
The midfielder had been a summer target for Liverpool and was still being monitored by the Merseysiders despite Palace valuing him at around £70million.
Roy Hodgson’s side were set to focus on signing a striker in the January transfer window, which opens in less than a month.
But it is believed the Selhurst Park outfit will not be flush with money in the new year and attention will now turn to signing a stand-in for Doucoure, who will prove a big miss during his absence.
Palace are now short in the defensive midfield area and will look for a new signing to stiffen up that area of the squad.
However, a well-placed source has told Football Insider that Hodgson’s side could look to the loan market to address their needs.
Doucoure had made 12 appearances across all competitions for Palace so far in the 2023-24 campaign but was forced off in the 2-1 loss against Luton last month.
In addition to potentially sitting out the rest of the club season, he 12-cap Mali international will also miss his nation’s African Cup of Nations campaign in the new year.
Crystal Palace had been keen to bolster their striking options in the January window.
Odsonne Edouard leads the club’s scoring charts this term with seven goals in all competitions – four more than the second-top scorer, Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Hodgson’s side sit 12th in the Premier League after 14 games.
In other news, Crystal Palace chief makes £45million transfer plea.