With a third successive season of Premier League football looking more of a reality for us with each passing week, it is only natural to start thinking ahead towards possible summer signings.
Alan Pardew, like Tony Pulis twelve months before, has overseen a revival which has left us as 66/1 shots with Betfair at the time of writing to be relegated, now that we are eight points above the bottom three. The next task for Pardew to oversee is the strengthening of the squad.
If the Josh Harris takeover goes through, then Pardew is expected to get a fair chunk of money to spend in the summer and you have to think a striker will be top of the list. Dwight Gayle is our joint-top scorer in the league this season with five which is the same number as Mile Jedinak. Next is Fraizer Campbell with four, so if we want to continue making progress, a striker who can reach double figures is going to be key.
Plenty of names will be linked with a move to Selhurst Park and here we take a look at four of those who all have different attributes.
Charlie Austin
The former Hungerford and Poole Town striker seems certain to leave Queens Park Rangers if they get relegated after scoring fifteen Premier League goals already this season.
Austin has carried a struggling side for much of the campaign, having scored half of their goals. He has shown he can do it against the best defences and bigger clubs after scoring against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. He is also versatile enough to play as part of a strike pairing or the main striker in a 4-3-3 formation.
It seems unlikely that he would be a one season wonder in the top flight given his consistent scoring record throughout his career. Southampton have been linked as well, but he seems a better fit for us and he would surely thrive alongside the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha with the chances that they create.
Rudy Gestede
Pardew tried to sign Gestede in the January transfer window, but Blackburn Rovers rejected a £3.5million bid. Gestede confirmed he did speak to Pardew about a move and could be targeted again in the summer.
He made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League for Cardiff City last season before arriving at Ewood Park, so is untested at this level. He is strong and a decent finisher, but the feeling is that he would be better served as a back-up option, rather than the first choice. The question is whether he is a big improvement, if any, on the likes of Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell. I think we should aim higher for a starting striker in the Premier League.
Bafetimbi Gomis
It is hard to know what to make of Gomis after the Swansea City striker was linked with a £9 million move to Selhurst in January. At the time, he was unsettled after playing a bit part role in the first half of the season following his arrival from Lyon but since the sale of Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, Gomis has been leading the Swansea line.
Unfortunately, goals have been hard to come by with just two in twenty-six Premier League games. He did score crucial goals in the wins over Arsenal and Manchester United, albeit slightly fortunately in the latter game. He would be a good link up man and one who can bring others in to play, but you would want to see him score more goals between now and the end of the season before thinking about spending around £10 million on him. It is that, rather than his vasovagal condition, which makes him a risky signing.
Loic Remy
Audacious and ambitious. Just a couple of words you could use to describe any bid from us for Remy. The latest ‘exclusive’ seems to have stemmed from reports in Italy earlier this month that Pardew is keen to sign Remy from Chelsea after working with the striker at Newcastle United.
The Frenchman scored fourteen goals in twenty-six league games on loan at Newcastle last season before seeing a move to Liverpool fall through. He eventually joined Chelsea from QPR, but he was never going to be first choice at Stamford Bridge.
That remains the case while Diego Costa is there. A summer move could appeal, especially if he wants to play regular first team football ahead of Euro 2016 in France. A lack of European football would be one obstacle, but he could flourish under Pardew again by being the main man in attack. It would also be a great statement by prospective owner Harris to get Remy in the door as you would be confident of him easily reaching double figures. It is certainly one to dream about.
