Report: Crystal Palace target Flynn Downes growing frustrated with Ipswich stance

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Crystal Palace have been handed a boost in their quest to sign Ipswich Town midfielder Flynn Downes after the player handed in a transfer request at Portman Road.

According to the Daily Mail, the youngster is hoping to force through a switch to the Premier League outfit, following Ipswich’s decision to reject a £2 million bid.

Downes is one of the Tractor Boys’ most promising young talents and it’s no surprise that chairman Marcus Evans isn’t welcoming bids.

Last season the central midfielder player played 32 times for the League One outfit and was even given the captain’s armband on one occasion.

Palace have a proud strategy in the transfer market of trying to sign exciting young talents. That has been highlighted so far during the current window with the signing Eberechi Eze from QPR.

Dougie Freedman has done a great job behind the scenes of attracting youngsters to the club and next on his list is clearly the capture of Downes.

The ball-playing midfielder has been capped six times for the England under-20 outfit and also has 39 Championship appearances to his name.

Palace will be hoping to improve on last season where Roy Hodgson could only lead his team to a 14th place finish in the Premier League.

Not only that but the Eagles didn’t win for eight games at the end of the season, losing seven of those winless fixtures.

Having never played in the top-flight before, Downes won’t come in and have an immediate impact but he would be one for the future.

It’s unsure at this stage what Ipswich value their player at, although it would seem the fee needs to be considerably higher than the £2 million previously rejected.

TBR View – Player power will probably prevail

If Palace are hellbent on adding Downes this summer, then it’s fair to say they’ll probably get their man.

The midfielder has now laid his cards on the table and the League One side won’t fancy an unhappy player around the place.

Player power is so rife in modern-day football and it seems for all the world that Downes will end up at Palace.

Evans might act like he’s digging his heels in when talking to the media but as a proud chairman, he will simply be trying to drive the price up for his prized asset.