Crystal Palace are now said to be the favourites to sign Marseille star Iliman N’Diaye who’s currently impressing at the AFCON.
Crystal Palace have had a particularly quiet transfer window this January with no real movement of note – despite substantial rumours.
Eddie Nketiah is the name which has been linked most although, he’s thought to be unlikely for a couple of reasons, with Arsenal most importantly unable to sign a replacement.
Borja Mayoral has been linked as well, with the attack clearly a priority as it’s the position mainly linked with Palace this window.
Now though, an incredibly exciting forward has been linked, with Palace being labelled as favourites.
Crystal Palace now favourites to sign Iliman Ndiaye
Taking to his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon had news on two Palace targets, first of Daniel Munoz who – he explained – Palace are set to pull off the shock signing of.
He then went on to discuss Iliman Ndiaye who wants to leave Marseille despite only making his reported £20m move there in the summer from Sheffield United.
According to the transfer expert, Palace are in the hunt to sign Ndiaye, should he leave the French giants this month. Given the great success he enjoyed at Sheffield United last year, the forward could fancy the chance to return to England.
Palace are long-term admirers and were interested in the summer prior to the move to France. Now the Eagles are linked with either buying or taking the 23-year-old on loan.
Above this, Nixon also added that effectively it’ll come down to whoever offers the best deal to Marseille – and that if it’s going to be a buy as opposed to a loan, Palace are “strong favourites”.
Ndiaye is currently at AFCON with Senegal and assisted a goal in a 3-0 win for their opening game on Monday afternoon. He will therefore have a move at the back of his mind and hoops will need to be jumped through to make this happen.
Ndiaye could be devastating for Palace
Signing Ndiaye would give Palace an incredible attacking group with such talent brimming within the squad. His creativity would almost match Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise and could mean Palace have among the best trios in the league.
As a forward, Ndiaye is by far more of a creator than a goalscorer and according to FotMob, he’s created 14 chances this season which is in the 79th percentile among other forwards.
He is one of those footballers who are an absolute joy to watch, with his Sheffield United coach Paul Heckingbottom lauding his ability last season.
The manager explained that Ndiaye, “plays as if he’s dancing. It’s beautiful”, and his dribbling stats just happen to tell that exact story.
Ndiaye has completed 25 successful dribbles this season (better than 96% of his positional peers, as defenders struggle to catch hi, which is demonstrated in his 17 fouls won (better than 74%).
An incredible player to watch who’d fit right in at Selhurst Park with the likes of Olise and Eze with the trio all being ace on the ball.
