Reports suggest that Crystal Palace are tempted by a loan move for AS Roma’s Patrik Schick.
Football Italia reported on Thursday that AS Roma are looking to loan out their Czech forward Patrik Shick, and that Crystal Palace are among those interested.
They are not alone, however, with Serie A sides Parma, Bologna and Udinese allegedly keeping an eye on things, as well as La Liga outfit Real Valladolid.
We know that Palace will have the financial muscle to move those sides away, though, and in this instance, they may be right to do so.
At 22, Schick is not the finished article but he does have the ability to score; his 11 Serie A goals for Sampdoria that earned him a €42million move show that.
His progress has stalled at Roma but they clearly do not want to give up on their investment, hence the loan, and Palace may find exactly what they are looking for with Schick.
Roy Hodgson persisted with Christian Benteke this season before the Belgian was injured, despite his lack of goals, which suggests his desire for a physical presence up front.
Hodgson’s success has come with a more mobile attack, however. Palace have looked brilliant at times when partnering Andros Townsend and Wilf Zaha up top.
Schick, standing over 6ft tall, offers that presence in attack while also being considerably more mobile than Benteke, to the point where he is a genuine option on the wing, too.
Schick is a talented forward who is capable of scoring at the top level and, if he can rediscover his form at Selhurst Park, he could be the best of both worlds for Hodgson and Palace.
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