Former Crystal Palace legend Clinton Morrison has told talkSPORT that he thinks England international Danny Welbeck should be snapped up by his former club.
Indeed, they have been linked with a few strikers, yet nothing has materialised. Palace allegedly have made an offer of £14m for Fedor Chalov (Sky Sports) – the Russian Premier League’s Golden Boot winner last year – as well as forward Ollie Watkins (Daily Mail).
So with eight days to go before the season starts, Palace are left with four options upfront: Christian Benteke, Jordan Ayew, Connor Wickham and Alexander Sorloth, who between them only managed two goals in the league last term (WhoScored).
Keeping this in mind – and that Benteke has only scored four goals in 46 games over the past two seasons at Palace (Transfermarkt) – they could need more firepower amid talk their top scorer from open play last season in Wilfried Zaha could leave – and Clinton Morrison has a suggestion.
The former Palace marksman – who sits joint fourth in their all-time top scorer list – suggests that they take a look at free agent Danny Welbeck and thinks that he could add a different dimension to the Eagles.
Morrison told talkSPORT: “I think he’s a terrific player. He’s not had the luck with injuries but he scores goals and his intentional record with England is second to none.
“He causes defenders a lot of problems. I would love him to sign for Crystal Palace.
“He’s exactly what Palace need; a centre-forward who can run in behind, who can score goals. He can do everything when he’s at it.
“I’m just surprised that we’re getting within a few weeks before the start of the season and he still isn’t at a football club. I don’t know if maybe his agent’s pricing him out of a move or something like that, but he’s a terrific player and I’d like to see Welbeck at a good Premier League club playing football again.”
Welbeck could be a good signing for Palace in an ideal world, mostly due to him being a different style of player – he can get in behind and stretch defences (as pointed out by the Telegraph), as well as having a good finishing ability, as suggested by his England goal record of 16 goals in 42 appearances (Transfermarkt).
However, wages could be a problem. As per the Guardian, the club are already struggling with their wage bill and a report from the Evening Standard suggested West Ham were put off by his £115k-p/w demands. According to SpotRac, such a figure would instantly see him become one of the club’s best-paid players, and for a player who has never recorded 30 league games within a season (Transfermarkt), it’s a risk Palace cannot afford to take despite what he can offer.
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