Crystal Palace want to hang on to James McArthur, but Premier League relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion are keen to strike a shock deal.
It is not just West Bromwich Albion’s strikers who have struggled to score goals this season. None of the midfielders in Alan Pardew’s misfiring Baggies squad have more than one in the Premier League this season.
That perhaps explains why West Brom are keen to raid relegation rivals Crystal Palace for James McArthur, as reported by The Mirror.
The 30-year-old is not exactly the most prolific central midfielder in world football, yet McArthur’s ability to pop up inside the penalty area has proved crucial to Crystal Palace in recent times. He has scored three goals in the league this season, including in hugely important wins against Watford and Southampton.
In fact, with five in 18 games in all competitions, McArthur already has as many goals this season as he managed in 31 appearances across 2016/17, making this his joint most prolific season since moving to England from Hamilton back in 2010.
And with the Scottish international out of contract in the summer, Crystal Palace have a difficult decision to make.
Do they keep him until the end of the season and let him leave for free or sell him while they have the chance, albeit to a West Brom side who could end up fighting against them for relegation? Surely Palace should not take the risk, with McArthur’s exit possibly coming back to haunt them in the most brutal fashion.
After all, the long-serving midfielder would give West Brom a different dimension going forward.
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