---
title: "Crystal Palace: Eagles weigh up move for Danny Simpson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-eagles-weigh-up-move-for-danny-simpson/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tommy Joyce"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2019-08-20T14:15:41Z"
modified: "2019-08-20T14:15:41Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Eagles weigh up move for Danny Simpson

**Crystal Palace are currently weighing up a move for former Premier League winner and free agent Danny Simpson, according to reports.**

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[TEAMtalk](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-brighton-palace-make-contact-over-freed-leicester-star) reports that Simpson, 32, is still hopeful of finding himself playing in the Premier League for the following season.

The former Leicester player – who was released by the club this summer – was previously training with Celtic earlier in the window, however, it is believed the right-back is holding out for a move to the Premier League, with a few other clubs interested.

The report says that Crystal Palace’s rivals Brighton are also sniffing around and have contacted his agent, as well as teams in the MLS – a move in which Simpson would be open to if he cannot stay in the English top tier.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Considering Aaron Wan-Bissaka is now a Manchester United player, there is a big void at right-back, with Palace only having two options: Joel Ward and Martin Kelly – the latter of the two is primarily a centre-half, as shown on [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/martin-kelly/profil/spieler/78959).

Both players, while established Premier League players, do not offer Palace the same threat as Aaron Wan-Bissaka going forward. Neither player recorded an assist last season, pointing towards them being more cautious full-backs.

Therefore, considering Danny Simpson is also a defensive-minded right-back, it’s hard to see what the 32-year-old could offer Palace which Kelly or Ward couldn’t. In his 213 Premier League games, Simpson has recorded just[seven assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-simpson/profil/spieler/37442). Wan-Bissaka, on the other hand, has got [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-wan-bissaka/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/477758) in 48, and was a constant option down the right for Palace, overlapping Andros Townsend (as explained by [Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/aaron-wan-bissaka-crystal-palace-tactical-analysis-analysis-statistics)).

In this sense, while 213 Premier League games is impressive, Palace simply do not need any more experience in that position – it is evidently not what they are lacking there. Joel Ward – Crystal Palace’s [most-featured](https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/appearances?se=-1&cl=6) Premier League player – has [172](https://www.premierleague.com/players/3929/Joel-Ward/overview) Premier League appearances to his name; Martin Kelly has [136](https://www.premierleague.com/players/3644/Martin-Kelly/stats).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Palace already have such a fairly old squad, which has an average age of [28](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/crystal-palace/startseite/verein/873). Signing Danny Simpson would be lacking so much foresight. Considering he has barely been able to get into Leicester’s team over the [past few seasons](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-simpson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/37442) and that he is a couple years older than both of Kelly and Ward, it’s hard to get why Palace would go for this deal.

If he could provide the Eagles with a different option or threat then you could see why they would be interested, but he doesn’t.

Sporting Director Dougie Freedman recently [spoke of how he had to be “responsible”](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystalpalace/dougie-freedman-explains-why-crystal-palace-didnt-spend-bulk-of-aaron-wanbissaka-transfer-fee-a4214766.html) (Evening Standard) when reinvesting the Wan-Bissaka cash. However, it is hard to see where the logic is in not signing a replacement at all in the window, and then having to pay the wages of a 32-year-old who can already do the same things that your two current full-backs can do.

***Crystal Palace fans, would signing Simpson be an unwise move? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!***