The mid-season transfer window has finally slammed shut.
It is a chaotic time for clubs, players and fans alike. Everyone is striving for the very latest news, media outlets falling over themselves to break the transfer news first. You have to wonder if the manufactured event is a good thing.
In truth, Palace have approached this window sensibly having made signings ahead of deadline day shows a certain amount of experience of recent years in getting the house in order, the cards lined up or however else you want to put it.
Palace still had a large squad of players at the time Alan Pardew arrived at the club. A lot of fringe players that simply were not being used or close to making the first eleven. It was expected that fresh faces would be brought in and so it proved.
We take a look at the movements in the market this past window and what each may bring to the squad.
In
Yaya Sanogo – Brought in on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season. Promising young French striker that needs game time and Arsene Wenger saw Palace as being a decent fit. Best performance so far was at Southampton in the FA Cup but expecting more from the big man.
Jordon Mutch – Signed from Queens Park Rangers on a four and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be over £4 million. The club have been linked with the midfielder for a while now and did not have the best of times at Loftus Road. Starred for Cardiff City in both their promotion season and their ill fated season in the Premier League. Likely to be a back up player but strengthens the options available to Pardew.
Shola Ameobi – Experienced striker signed on a free transfer after a brief spell in Turkey. A deal until the end of the season for a player that is very familiar to Pardew. Another player that strengthens the squad options.
Pape Souare – The left back from Senegal signed on a three and a half year deal from Lille after appearing in the African Cup Of Nations. He is also comfortable playing on the left side of midfield but is likely to slot straight in at left back.
Wilfried Zaha – The one most fans had been waiting for, the return of the prodigal son on a permanent deal from Manchester United. He signed a five and a half year deal which ends his nightmare spell at Old Trafford and hopefully continues his rehabilitation at Selhurst Park.
Andreas Breimyr – The young Norwegian has signed for development side subject to a work permit. He will play for Bryne on loan for the rest of the season, the club that Palace bought him from.
Keshi Anderson – Plucked from non-league, the striker signs from Barton Rovers on an eighteen month deal. He scored a perfect hat-trick when facing our youth team a few weeks back.
Lee Chung-Yong – The South Korean has signed from Bolton Wanderers on a three and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee. An exciting signing after hearing some good things from fans of his former club. Can play wide and as an attacking midfielder. Almost 70 international caps for his country but returned from Asian Cup duty with a hairline leg fracture so will be a few weeks before he is fit to make his debut.
Out
As for those leaving the club, Stuart O’Keefe moved to Cardiff City on a permanent deal. The rest are loan deals, the latest of which is Barry Bannan (Bolton) joining other players out at other clubs across the country – Peter Ramage (Barnsley), Sulley KaiKai (Cambridge), Jake Gray (Cheltenham), Zeki Fryers and Jack Hunt (both Rotherham), Jerome Binnom-Williams (Southen), Ghassimu Sow (Farnborough Town), Lewis Price (Crawley).
And so it came to pass, the window slammed shut and Jim White’s dulcet tones were quietened until the next time. Pardew has an abundance of players to work with, just a small matter of naming a Premier League squad for the run in.
