Can Palace boss Hodgson finally get best out of West Ham’s Antonio?

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If Crystal Palace sign Michail Antonio from West Ham, could Roy Hodgson convert him into a regular striker like Andros Townsend or Wilfried Zaha?

Crystal Palace are considering tempting Michail Antonio across the English capital by making a bid for the West Ham United star, according to the Sun.

Apparently Eagles manager Roy Hodgson has made Antonio one of his top targets this summer and the 28-year-old could well be tempted by the switch to Selhurst Park.

Repeat the trick

Hodgson arrived at Palace in crisis back in September having lost their first four matches without scoring a single goal under former boss Frank de Boer.

Yet the 70-year-old turned them around and they have already confirmed their Premier League survival and could even finish as high as ninth this season.

This has all been achieved with their only true striker, Christian Benteke, badly struggling for form but Hodgson has overcome that by converting wingers Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha into forwards.

Townsend and Zaha have regularly lead the line for the South Londoners, with the latter bagging eight league goals as a result, and this should provide inspiration for Antonio who started his career out wide but has often been utilised as a number nine.

The Englishman will know that Hodgson has the coaching capability to potentially turn him into a consistent attacker and alongside the other duo, could make up one of the most versatile, fluid and effective front threes in the division.