Crystal Palace have considered a deal that would see £11.5 million Watford winger Gerard Deulofeu move to Selhurst Park on loan, according to The Standard.
While the slaloming Spain international remains maddeningly inconsistent at the age of 26, it’s no coincidence that Watford’s form dropped like a stone after his season was ended by a cruciate ligament injury in March.
Deulofeu’s final appearance of 2019/20 came in that 3-0 bashing of Premier League champions Liverpool.
But, shorn of match-changing brilliance that only he can provide, Watford won just two of their final ten games, scoring nine goals along the way as their five-year stay in the top flight came to an end.
Like Abdoulaye Doucoure, Christian Kabasele and Ismaila Sarr, Deulofeu is now expected to attract plenty of interest from elsewhere.
While Crystal Palace are admirers of the former Barcelona and AC Milan speedster, Eagles fans should not hold their breath.
The Standard reports that Roy Hodgson’s stuttering side is interested in a loan deal for Deulofeu.
But, perhaps due to an injury which looks set keep him on the sidelines for another couple of months, Palace are expected to focus on other targets instead.
“We all know what Gerard can bring. He comes up with a bit of magic, incredible,” former Everton and now-Belgium boss Roberto Martinez said during their time together at Goodison Park in 2015 (90Min).
“We know what he can achieve and we want to help him do that because he’s a sensational talent.”
Five years on, glimpses of that ‘sensational talent’ have been fleeting at best.
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