Crystal Palace could reportedly sign Fiorentina’s Khouma Babacar for bargain fee

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Fiorentina may let Khouma Babacar leave in January – and Crystal Palace shouldn’t let such any opportunity pass them by.

After years of speculation, Khouma Babacar could finally be plying his trade in the Premier League by January. The Fiorentina striker has been linked with a move to England for several years, but it appears that a deal is now more likely than ever. And Crystal Palace could be a likely destination.

Since Stefano Pioli took over from Paulo Sousa at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the summer, the 24-year-old’s opportunities have dramatically diminished.

Babacar has never been a regular fixture in Fiorentina’s first XI, scoring his ten Serie A goals from 13 starts in 2016/17. But the fact that all of his ten league appearances this season have come from the bench makes it pretty clear that he’s not a crucial part of Pioli’s plans.

And Tuttomercatoweb now report that Babacar could be sold in January – for as little as £9 million.

This opportunity, therefore, should not pass Crystal Palace by. According to La Viola News earlier this month, Babacar’s representatives had held talks with The Eagles about a possible move to Selhurst Park in the New Year.

And it is understood that Babacar, a 6ft 3ins Senegal international, would be open to a move to London – thus ruling out fellow Premier League suitors West Brom and Brighton.

Though Crystal Palace have found goals easier to come by recently, winning for only the second time this season after Mamadou Sakho’s last-gasp winner against Stoke City on Saturday, Roy Hodgson’s side have still hit the net just eight times in 12 games and sit bottom of the table.

And with doubts surrounding the future of striker Christian Benteke, the new-found availability of the athletic and powerful Babacar may come at the perfect time.