Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend linked with Leicester City switch - what would he bring?

By Rob Meech

He has had a nomadic career to date, and Andros Townsend could be on the move again, if speculation is to be believed.

The England winger featured for Crystal Palace in their 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday, which has left the Eagles pointless after two Premier League matches.

However, according to the Daily Mail, new manager Frank de Boer is set to cash in on Townsend to free up money for fresh recruits – with Leicester City currently leading the chase, as reported by the same source.

Townsend only joined Palace from Newcastle United last year and has scored three goals in 38 league appearances for the Selhurst Park club.

He had previously spent eight years at Tottenham Hotspur but departed for the north east after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Townsend had failed to establish himself at White Hart Lane, despite breaking into the England set-up under Roy Hodgson.

In fact, the 26-year-old had been farmed out on loan no fewer than nine times during his spell at Tottenham.

What would he bring?

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare has been busy in the transfer market this summer, having spent nearly £55 million on Harry Maguire, Vincente Iborra and Kelechi Iheanacho.

With doubts surrounding the future of Riyad Mahrez, who has been linked with a big-money move abroad, Townsend could be an inexpensive replacement.

It is vexing that some of his best performances have come in an England shirt, where he has three goals in 13 appearances, while he has largely struggled to hold down a regular spot for his club.

With pace to burn, trickery and a rocket shot on him, Townsend has all the attributes to be a Premier League regular. Injuries have not helped his cause and he was forced to sit out the 2014 World Cup.

As shown by some of his goals for England, Townsend is capable of the spectacular. However, he can leave supporters frustrated with his inconsistency and this appears to have persuaded de Boer to make him available.

With Palace willing to sell, this deal could happen before the window shuts. Townsend will want more game-time to get back into England contention, which Leicester could offer him.