Crystal Palace target Niasse is no real improvement on departing Sorloth

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Crystal Palace are eyeing up a loan bid for Everton outcase Oumar Niasse in this month’s transfer window, according to the Evening Standard.

They report that the Eagles have turned to the loan and free transfer market after pulling out of a deal for Dominic Solanke, who eventually moved to Bournemouth on a big-money deal.

Goalscoring has been the biggest issue for Palace all season, so it is no surprise that Roy Hodgson is in the market for a striker.

That need for goals is only exacerbated by the impending departure of Alexander Sorloth – who was Hodgson’s big goalscoring hope from the last January window – to join Gent on loan until the end of the season.

Sorloth’s own disappointing year at Palace should act as a cautionary tale for Hodgson when it comes to rectifying his goalscoring woes mid season and the best that can be said about a potential loan deal for Niasse is that there is no risk of being landed with a dud on a long-term contract.

But getting Niasse in on loan at the same time as Sorloth leaves is not going to offer Palace a discernable increase in quality; it is merely a case of replacing one striker who is low on confidence and has not shown anything to suggest he is good enough for the Premier League with another.