Gaetan Laborde had interest from both Arsenal and Liverpool in the summer but could be set for the Premier League with Crystal Palace instead.
Crystal Palace have travelled far and wide in pursuit of a new striker. But, as things stand, the out of form Christian Benteke remains the only natural number nine at Roy Hodgson’s service; something the Palace boss will be desperate to change before the month is out.
It is understood that the Eagles sent scouts to watch Gaetan Laborde in action for Bordeaux on Sunday and they will not have been disappointed.
The 23-year-old scored from the spot as the Ligue 1 giants continued their recent resurgence with an eye-catching 3-1 win over high-flying Lyon.
Laborde was handed a rare start for Bordeaux against Bruno Genesio’s side, only his fourth of the season, and he has not exactly been a crucial part of the club’s first-team plans in the last few months.
The former France under-20 international has just two goals all season and was not exactly prolific last year either, netting six times in 21 starts.
But Laborde is clearly a highly-rated talent. Just a few months ago, the attacker himself admitted that there had been interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, as reported by Goal.
And Le Parisien reported that Liverpool were even preparing to offer around £9 million to sign him back in July. Jurgen Klopp’s side, however, did not manage to bring the youngster to Anfield in the end but a move to the Premier League does appear to be on the cards this month.
It remains to be seen how much Palace will have to pay, however, to get their man.
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