Crystal Palace are currently involved in a Premier League relegation battle, a situation experienced by Aston Villa and Sunderland in recent years.
Crystal Palace could go the way of Aston Villa or Sunderland, according to Stan Collymore.
This is Palace’s sixth consecutive season as a Premier League club. But after last season’s 11th-place finish, the Eagles now find themselves out of the bottom three on goal difference only.
And with a number of high earning players on the books, relegation could have potentially disastrous consequences, says Collymore, writing in his weekly column for the Daily Mirror (November 13, page 51).
“Crystal Palace are just starting to remind me of Aston Villa and Sunderland two years before both teams were relegated from the Premier League, and I hope for their sake they turn things around,” it reads.
“They have got a big wage bill with some players earning well in excess of £100,000 a week, the sort of sums that can cripple a club if they go down and can’t then get those players out.”
Aston Villa are now in their third successive campaign outside of the top flight, while Sunderland are rebuilding in the third tier after back-to-back demotions.
One thing that could work in Crystal Palace’s favour, however, is the fact the Eagles have assets such as Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who have attracted interest from some of the country’s top clubs in recent weeks, months and years – in the latter’s case.
Collymore played for both Palace and Aston Villa before turning to punditry.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
