Would Palace have avoided their stuttering start with Rincon in their ranks?
Just six months after a £6.5 million offer amounted to little more than a wasted fax, Crystal Palace’s chances of sealing the transfer of Genoa midfielder Tomas Rincon have moved from improbable to nigh-on impossible.
After all, why dump yourself in the middle of a relegation dogfight when you could lift the Serie A trophy in May?
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the 28-year-old Venezuelan captain will move to Juventus on an initial loan deal in January with the possibility of making the deal permanent in the summer for £8.5 million.
It’s uncertain whether new Eagles boss Sam Allardyce was interested in attempting to add the finishing touches to Alan Pardew’s August groundwork, with Palace’s offer of £6.5 million proving insufficient according to the Daily Mail.
However, the fact that Juve have headhunted Rincon as the man to enhance a midfield already blessed with Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira, Stefano Sturaro and Miralem Pjanic suggests that Palace maybe should have upped their offer.
Experienced, technically astute and a natural leader, Rincon appeared every inch the perfect replacement for the departing Mile Jedinak while his work-rate would surely have appealed to the disciplinarian Allardyce.
Yet, with Juventus reportedly close to wrapping up a deal, Palace will be forced to look elsewhere in the New Year as Allardyce attempts to steer the side clear of the relegation zone.
On the flipside, Yohan Cabaye’s finest performance of the season could hardly have been better timed.
Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon and Yohan Cabaye in action with Watford’s Etienne Capoue
Excellent against Watford in the former England boss’ first game at the helm, the Frenchman’s coolly taken goal in the 1-1 draw will have Palace fans praying that Allardyce can coax the creative genius out of a player who has been little more than a shadow during the previous half-season.
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