Crystal Palace welcomed four new faces to Selhurst Park in the 2023 summer transfer window, although results are suggesting that other options could have suited Roy Hodgson’s squad better.
Crystal Palace are struggling for form at present, with a host of issues identifiable as contributing to the poor results accumulated by Roy Hodgson’s side.
The 76-year-old has come under scrutiny due to the form of his squad of late, as Palace have recorded just one win in 2024 in all competitions, with growing concerns over the veteran manager’s employment status at the club.
The Eagles welcomed four new signings in the summer in a bid to mark some progression in the first team, with Dean Henderson, Rob Holding, Matheus Franca and Jefferson Lerma arriving at Selhurst ahead of the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Despite securing the deals for their new arrivals, who represent an addition of depth in a range of positions, the South Londoners didn’t strike a deal with all of their reported targets during the window.
Who Crystal Palace should have signed in the summer
One player who was linked with a move to the capital was Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville, who at some points looked likely to leave the Whites following their relegation from the Premier League.
Back in July 2023, journalist Mike McGrath listed Palace as one of the clubs that ‘admired’ the Dutchman pending his status at Leeds, where he eventually stayed to assist in the Championship.
According to media reports in the summer, the 22-year-old had a buyout clause of just £20.5m, a fee just £500k short of the amount spent to acquire Dean Henderson from Manchester United.
While strengthening in the goalkeeping department was important for Palace, there is an argument to defend the position of Sam Johnstone, whose status as number one was compromised by the arrival of Henderson.
As highlighted by Sofascore statistics, the former United man averages a rate of 2.4 goals conceded per game in the Premier League this season, more than Johnstone who averages 1.4 per game.
The 30-year-old has shown encouraging form for the Eagles, with questions there to be asked as to whether there was an urgent need to spend £20m on a replacement for the number one spot, and could that money have been better utilised elsewhere.
How Crysencio Summerville could have bolstered Crystal Palace
When assessing the frailties in Hodgson’s XI, one would be the underperforming Jeffrey Schlupp, a player whose position could have been filled by someone of the calibre of Summerville in the summer.
Despite making 20 Premier League appearances so far this term, Schlupp has only scored once and assisted on one occasion, numbers that are damning when put in comparison with those of the reported Palace target.
In the 2023/24 calendar so far, Summerville has recorded 23 goal contributions in 30 appearances for Leeds, netting 15 goals and recording eight assists to showcase his threat in the wide areas.
Lauded as “unplayable” by pundit Michael Dawson for his performances this season, the 2001-born dynamo could have handed Hodgson a player able to compete with the standard of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, players Palace could only wish they could clone.
While business in the transfer market is not as simple as it is during a game of FIFA, the arguably needless £20m expense to capture Henderson could have generated the needed funds to acquire a forward of the stature of the Dutchman to better equip Palace.
