Sebastien Di Maio wants to leave Serie A side Bologna and a move to the Premier League is a possibility with Crystal Palace and Stoke City interested.
The news that Scott Dann will be out for the rest of the season came as a major blow to Crystal Palace’s Premier League survival hopes. With club-record signing Mamadou Sakho already on the sidelines, the Eagles are now without their first-choice central defensive partnership.
So it should come as no surprise to learn which position manager Roy Hodgson is seemingly keen on strengthening in January.
Sky Sports stated last week that Palace have made a £16 million bid for Lille’s Ibrahim Amadou and now there is another name in the frame. According to Corriere di Bologna, out-of-favour centre-back Sebastien De Maio is on the radar of both Crystal Palace and the now managerless Stoke City.
Like Palace, the Potters’ need for a centre-back is pretty obvious. They have conceded a frankly ridiculous 47 goals in 22 top flight outings this season; a major factor in Mark Hughes’ inevitable and arguably overdue sacking.
30-year-old Frenchman De Maio only arrived at Bologna this summer from Anderlecht but is understood to be unhappy with his lack of opportunities in Serie A, having only started six league games this season for Roberto Donadoni’s side.
An excellent passer, De Maio would enable Palace or Stoke to play out from the back, although it is his ability to stop rather than start attacks which is most likely the reason why Hodgson in particular is keen.
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