Strikers who could hit the pitch banging in goals as soon as they come if we transfer in the winter period. I retain my summer ideas when I said that transferring Oumar Niasse or Stepinski would be good, but given that they either don't play or are in a team that is struggling to score, they would need time to be integrated, which Palace doesn't have right now. We need a striker asap to keep the team up another year. It's a question not only of maintaining a good image by staying in the first division, but also of more than 60 million and other advantages financially. So the above are not the answer in this moment. Who is?

Assumptions:

1. They need to be in form right now
2. The teams where they play would have to want to sell for less than 10 million, preferably for less than 5
3. They should have good scoring records in the last 2 years in the top 5 leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1) or outstanding records in medium leagues (Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Championship, 2. Bundesliga, Segunda Division, Serie B, Switzerland, Ukraine, Greece, Austria, Croatia, Scotland, MLS, China Superleague etc.).
4. Their goals should not have come from penalties (except maybe a few)
5. Preferably, they can do other things than score, like press, defend well, run a lot, provide assists.
6. Age should be below 30, preferably below 25 as to warrant a possible re-sale
7. Player should want to come for an average Premier League salary, not higher

Of course fellow Premier League teams will not sell us their in-form strikers. So, that's no Callum Wilson or Raul Jimenez. Players like Maxi Gomez from Celta Vigo, who is scoring big time in Spain, won't come to Crystal Palace either, as they're expecting transfers to bigger teams.

I could write here the number of minutes played by each of them in the last 2 years, but that would take too long, so I'll just write the number of goals and matches they played. In no order of importance:

1. LEBO MOTHIBA (South African, 22 yo) 25 goals in 59 matches in Ligue 1 and the national team. Had a decent season with Lille last year (5 goals at 21 years of age, though barely used), but the team had a disappointing season overall, barely avoiding relegation. They chose to sell him in the summer to make room for strikers with more experience. He went to Strassbourg for just 3.6 million (contract until 2023). Scored 7 in 12 matches so far this season. Strassbourg is mid-table, they would probably sell for an offer that's double what they paid.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

2. NEAL MAUPAY (French, 22 yo) 35 goals in 87 matches in Ligue 2 and the Championship in the last 2 years. Not a big center forward at just 1,73 in height, but maybe it's time to play with a shorter striker or false 9 after all, like Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham, Barcelona, Sevilla, Napoli, Leverkusen have proven it's possible in recent years and might even be better. 11 goals in 15 matches so far this season for Brentford, they're mid-table, can't see them aiming for promotion, they could sell for the right offer, probably around 10 million cause hey, these are Brittish prices. Maupay has had progress season after season and is still at an age from which he can be resold in 2-3 years to get double or triple that.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL.

3. EMILIANO SALA (Argentine with Italian passport, 28 yo) 40 goals for Nantes in the last 89 matches in Ligue 1. Granted, a few were penalties, but taking those out still gives him a good ratio. And he's on fire right now!! 10 goals in 11 matches this season in one of the top 5 leagues. There have been talks with Palace before as his contract is running up in 2020 and they want to cash in at least something, Nantes is going to finish mid-table with or without him so I can see them accepting a bid of even less than 10 million! Looks very strong and tough.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 2.5 matches in the PL (little re-sale value at 28 yo, but you can do your job with him right now: stay up in the PL and get the tv rights money for next season)

4. MAX KRUSE (German, 30 yo) a little on the old side too, but really hard working, runs a lot, is a striker converted from a winger, so has speed. His contract with Werder Bremen is up in the summer, so an offer would be gold for Werder. 3 goals so far this season, 23 in the previous 2 seasons for a total of 26 in 68 matches, many in which he didn't even play as center forward. And a loot of assists too! You'd get quality confirmed.

My prediction: if you use him as center forward, he'd score at least once in 2.5 matches in the PL

5. BAGHDAD BOUNEDJAH (Algerian, 26 yo) Rarely do I mention a player from the Arab leagues. The level is pretty low there, but this guy, with 62 goals in 44 matches for his club Al Sadd, is something else. Even we divide that by 2, he'd still have a good ratio. His clause is set at 13 million, but they would probably sell for less. I don't remember an Arab club ever selling for more than 5 million. Lille from France offered 4 million for him in the summer, but they wanted more. Solid and tough, fast, not chubby, good height and built.

My prediction: he'd score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

6. MOUSSA KONE (Senegalese, 21 yo) Surprised that I think a player this young can come to the Pemier League and score ASAP? 25 goals in 59 matches for FC Zurich in Switzerland and Dynamo Dresden in the 2.Bundesliga, who bought him in January with 2 million. Probably the greatest talent in the German 2.Bundesliga. 6 goals and 3 assists in 12 matches this season for them.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 in the PL and would help the team in a lot of different ways too, as he is very young, covers a lot of ground, runs a lot and would be an incredible asset financially, probably able to get him for 5 and sell him for 40-50 million in a few years. Only thing is that, like Maupay, he's on the shorter side too (1,75 in height) so it would mean playing with a false 9 or having him play as a second striker. Transfer should be allowed though he doesn't play for the national team, as he's a great prospect.

7. MBWANA SAMATTA (Tanzanian, 25 yo) I suggested him in the summer too, but he was towards the end of my list. But he's just been on fire this season: an amazing 19 goals in 21 matches in the Belgian league and the Europa League. Great for the national team too. 11 goals in 30 matches for Tanzania, a country for which I don't know how many strikers in the world could actually score for, one of the poorest teams in Africa. 50 goals in 115 matches for Genk in total in the last 2 years.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

8. ANTONIO COLAK (Croatian, 25 yo) Now here's a very unknown player. Center forward (mainly) Colak, valued at just 1 million by transfermarkt. Raised in Germany, transferred from Nuremberg to Hoffenheim's ranks for just 450 thousand in 2015, but they constantly loaned him cause they deemed Firmino, Volland, Sandro Wagner and Kramaric better than him (and rightfully so though cause they took Hoffenheim to 4th place in Germany, but you can't touch these strikers), Colak went to the 2.Bundesliga and the Croatian league at Rijeka, he became Croatian champion ahad of Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split last season. He has 20 goals in 40 matches in the 2.Bundesliga, the German Cup and Croatia in the last 2 years. 10 goals in 14 matches just this season. Getting Colak would mean having to agree with both Hoffenheim and Rijeka, but, from my experience, I'm pretty sure it would only take about 1-2 million to each of them to let him go. I'm very confident when I say this. His contract with Hoffenheim is running u in 2020, they don't want him, they hope Rijeka will probably trigger a clause of about 1 million and Rijeka is a small team that would sell if they get a 1-2 million offer. Very cheap player. You can't really buy Croatian national team players right now, as Mandzukic, Perisic or Rebic are out of Palace's potential. Rebic would have been a good buy 1-2 years ago. Eintracht got him from Fiorentina for cheap and he was one of the best at the World Cup, many big teams, including Man Utd, wanting to buy him. The Croatian manager described him as potentially the best player in the world in a few years. He's a very strong winger, similar to Cr Ronaldo and Perisic, imagine having gone for him 2 years ago! I knew him, I signaled him out, nobody listened. Now I'm signaling out these other players.

My prediction: Colak would scoe at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

9. TIQUINHO SOARES (27 yo) Very good finaliser from a pretty good league, played well at FC Porto, but has gone down the pecking order there. Still managed 4 goals and 1 assist in 7 matches so far this season, but is behind Marega and the young Portuguese Andre Pereira, with Aboubakar also set to come back from injury. While Marega would cost 30-40 million, Tiquinho would probably be available for 5-10. 35 goals in 74 matches in Portugal for FC Porto. Fast player and hard working. Maybe some problems with his transfer cause he doesn't have a European passport and doesn't play in the national team.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

10. ALFREDO MORELOS (22 yo) On the shorter side too at 1,77 in height, not playing in a great league, but accustomed to Brittish footbal, Glasgow Rangers' Colombian is very young and very fast. There was a lot of talk here about Moussa Dembele from Celtic, whom the fans really wanted. Well, this Morelos is pretty much a Moussa Dembele, just a lot cheaper and who could actually want to come to a team like Palace. More or less the same number of goals like Dembele, but instead of paying 20 million for the Frenchman like Lyon paid, you can get Morelos for just 5-6 million. 32 goals in 66 matches for Rangers. At his age, that's great!

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL

11. ROGER ASSALE (24 yo) One of my personal favourites. 31 goals in 79 matches for Young Boys, the Swiss champions, who demolished Basel last year and keep on doing so this year. But the good thing about him is that he's got an amazing number of assists too: 21! He's a very strong and fast player, would make a nice team with fellow Ivory Coast national team player Zaha, in fact reminds me of Zaha's playing style. But the downside is that he's very diminutive (only 1,67) and could only play as second striker or on the wings (left footed). At Young Boys he plays behind big man Hoarou. 4 goals and 5 assists as second striker this season. Young Boys is not a rich team, they would sell, especially as their Champions League campaign will surely be over with them in 4th place behind Juventus, Man Utd and Valencia. And they have a lot of option up front too. I can't imagine them asking for more than 5 million.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 4 matches in the PL, but would assist at least 1 in 3 matches too.

12. LEIGH GRIFFITHS (28 yo) Not from a grat league, but accustomed with English type of football. He has great numbers. There was talk about Mounas Dabbur from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer and I said "why Munass Dabbur (a great striker, but one acustomed to a different type of style, with more passing, similar to the Spanish teams in Salzburg) and why not Leigh Griffiths? Griffiths has similar number of goals to Dabbur in a medium-level league." 40 goals in 100 matches in the last 2 years in Scotland and the national team (including 2 against England itself in a friendly at the highest level). 74 goals in 127 matches since he went to Celtic in 2014. Has recently signed a new contract until 2022, but let's be serious, Celtic is trying to push the youngster Edouard whom they bought from PSG for 10 million and sell him to the PL for twice that, so Griffiths is getting less and less playing time. 5 goals and 2 assists in just 900 minutes of playing time this season for him, so he's still in good form.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL, little re-sale value, so I'd only go for him if they agree to sell him for less than 5 million (which they might)

13. JOSEF MARTINEZ (Venezuelan, 25 yo) As far as I'm aware this sensation top scorer from the MLS has just 1 more year of contract. Atlanta paid for him 4 million when they bought him from the Serie A in 2017. He was good there too, but he was really young. Was used often as a winger and couldn't hit double digits at 21 or 22. But since coming to the MLS he has played only as center forward and has scored 50 in 54 matches (although 10 of those were penalties) and 5 in 17 for the Venezuela national team. He's short at 1,72, but strong and fast. He's also able to play as a second striker. A lot of teams will want him, but none willing to offer him Premier League level of salary.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 2 PL matches, but I don't really like his attitude, he should run a lot more. But as far as scoring is concerened, he's your man. Available at a decent price.

14. ALFRED FINNBOGASSON (Iceland, 29 yo) A little older too. I thought a lot about adding such an old player on the list, but the form he's in at the moment and the fact that he could come right in the team and score made me put him. He plays for Augsburg (with another good forward, the younger but not in such great momentary form Austrian Gregoritch). Augsburg is not a great team from Germany, so they'd probably charge decent prices. Finnbogasson's contract is also up in 2020, so a fee between 5 and 10 million should do it. 6 goals in 5 matches this year at the highest level (Bundesliga). 28 goals in 56 matches in the last years for Augsburg, very constant.

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 2-2.5 matches in the PL, but there would be no re-sale value. However, in Palace's situation right now, a striker is needed who can score from January until June. That man is Finnbogasson, a very hard working, fit man even at 29-30 years of age.

15. KHOUMA BABACAR (Senegalese, 25 yo) Linked with us many times in the past, gone to Sassuolo in the summer for 8 million, contract until 2022. The problem for him is that he's not really a starter. Just 400 minutes this season, but he did manage to score twice and assist 3 times. They seem to want to recoup their investment or at least make a little profit, so a bid around 10 million would probably get them to sell. Can't say that I really like his attitude (just like Josef Martinez') but the man does score goals in his little minutes. 23 goals in 73 matches for Fiorentina and Sassuolo in the last 2 years, but more importantly 23 goals in just 3500 minutes.

My prediction: if used for 90 minutes, would score at least 1 in 2.5 matches in the PL

16. ALAN CARVALHO (Brazilian, 29 yo) IS OUT OF CONTRACT ON JANUARY 19TH!! One of the best players ever transfered in the Chinese league. 56 goals in 98 matches for the multi champions Guanghzou Evergrande. 27 assists in this time too! 17 goals and 12 assists just in 2018 in 21 matches. He is one of Red Bull Salzburg's great team from a few years back, with Sadio Mane (now one of the best in England), the great goalscorer Jonathan Soriano and Kevin Kampl, playing very well in the Europa league, winning their group with maximum points (18 ). Alan was very good even back then and was bought for 10 million by the Chinese. Had a nasty injury after was signed, recovered extremely well 2 years ago and has been playing even better than before. Most go to China and regress instead of progressing, but Alan is very skinny, fit (no single fat cell!) and is at the same level with Richarlison and Felipe Anderson (amazing players who do extremely well in the Premier League, but cost in excess of 40 million each!) Alan for me is just that good. And is out of contract right in 2 months. Contact him, get him on board, pay his agents an extra 1-2 million and put him in the team! He's able to play anywhere up front: winger, attacking midfielder, even center forward. Not many teams or scouts have knowledge of Alan, so he'd be a great option!

My prediction: would score at least 1 in 3 matches in the PL (even as attacking midfielder, not center forward)

17. RICARDO GOULART (Brazilian, 27 yo) The last player from China who I think would be willing to come to Palace. Surely Hulk or Oscar or Bakambu or Carrasco would have bigger suitors if they chose to leave, but Goulart is right at their level. And not old at 27. He has a good attiude during matches. Yes, the level is low, but he has always been good and constant, even in Brazil before being bought by the Chinese. 48 goals in his last 69 matches for Guanghzou. Usually plays as second striker, but is able to play all position up front. Has a good strike, even from outside the box. Has a contract until 2020, but a fee between 5-10 million would land him.

My prediction: would score 1 every 2 matches in the PL

18. ALBERTH ELIS (Hondurian, 22 yo) Not reall a center forward, more like a right winger, but still has amazing records for a 22 year old. AND HIS CONTRACT IS UP NEXT MONTH ON DECEMBER 31ST!! Out of all the MLS players, he is the one that springs to mind. Trust me, if you get this player for free now (and I'm sure he'd take a Premier League standard contract, not something extreme) and if you play him as a starter in the PL, you'll have offers of more than 20 million for him by next summer. 100% good business. And he might even score some too. He has 11 goals in 30 matches just this season. You don't really need the MLS scorers ahead of him in the Premier League (except for maybe Josef Martinez) as they're either too old (David Silva, Ignacio Piatti, Carlos Vela, Sebastian Giovinco) or wouldn't come to Palace (Zlatan Ibrahimovic). But Elis has 22 goals in 60 matches in the MLS by the age of 22!! And 7 goals in 28 matches for the national team!

My prediction: would score enough for a 22 year old right winger in the PL (more than Chungy anyway and would not want more than what Chungy was earning) and we'd sell him for amazing profit. As a Hondurian, he'd realy stand out when brough to the PL.

I would have named KRMENCIK from Viktoria Plzen on thsi list too (amazing in his league), but he has just had cruciate ligament surgery, so I don't know how he will recover.

A good call for next summer would be ALEKSANDR KOKORIN from Zenit Skt Petersburg (27 yo). A very fast, strong striker. But, if you have followed media, he's having some extra-pitch problems in his country. He was charged for hitting a Ministry official in a cafe and he has spent some nights in jail. I don't know if he'll be convicted, but he'll surely be put on trial. He'll probably just have a suspended sentence. If this happens, he really should be pursued as his contract is up in the summer and the Russians pretty much don't want to have him playing in their country anymore. I, for one, don't give a darn about what scandals a player has had in a bar. It happened to anyone, we all got in brawls, let's judge him by his football skills. Playing as center forward, he has had 20 goals in 22 matches for Zenit. Together with playing as winger, he has 31 goals in 78 matches and a lot of assists. Also, 4 goals in 10 national team matches in the last 2 years, playing as both striker and winger. Very fast and hard working. But had a nasty injury recently and needs a few months to recover. He seemed to come back in good form with 2 goals this season for Zenit but then the scandal came. Getting him for free in the summer and having him fully prepared would mean a world class striker for Crystal Palace, he's one of my favourites in the world.

There would be other good strikers too, but they offer more ssists than goals: DANNY WELBECK (who might want more playing time than in Arsenal), SARDAR AZMOUN, LUIS MURIEL (who Sevilla would be willing to loan out), ZE LUIS from Spartak Moscow, even cheap option LUCAS JOAO from the Championship.

But we already have a striker who sets up for other in Benteke. The problem is that he doesn;t score. And that's what Palace needs right now: a striker who scores!!

Some really young strikers would also be good, like MUSA BARROW from Atalanta (19 yo), best pstriker by far in the Italian youth system last year, or CHRISTIAN KOUAME from Genoa (20 yo), bought this year for 5 million after a good Serie B season last year, but I'm no sure that they can actually come right in and score a lot at their age. They need time, but I think both of them are surely worth around 10 million. Genoa might just sell Koumae as they rely more on Piatek this season. But Kouame is the one feeding him a lot of assits! Another youngster who should be bought for cheap is EMMANUEL DENNIS from Club Brugge. He's great, but he has fallen down the pecking order and they'd probably sell him for about 2 million. But let's focus on those who can make an impact immediately.

So, get ALAN CARVALHO and ALBERTH ELIS next month when their contracts expire and send them in right away in January. They're in great shape and goals will come even if the Premier League is at a totally different level. Monitor Kokorin's situation and if he resolves his problems with the law, offer him a a pre-contract for next summer. Get another of the above strikers on the list for 5-10 million this winter. With the exception of Alan Carvalho who is earning a lot in China, the others have contracts less than what is offered in the Premier League.
Make room for their salaries by cashing in on 2 of Benteke, Sorloth and Jordan Ayew (you can get 5-10 million from Championship clubs for each Benteke and Sorloth, nothing for Ayew as he's just on loan, but still can get rid of his salary) and you'd have more goals up front in the second half of the league with 0 costs- what you saved you pay for the 3 players above: Alan, Elis and another center forward who is on a streak.

Just as a comparison with the above, you've read their goals and matches and my predictions that they'd score at least 1 in 3 matches in the Premier League, now see Benteke's, Sorloth's and Jordan Ayew's:

Benteke-18 goals in 70 PL matches for Crystal Palace

Sorloth- 0 goals in 12 matches, 15 goals in 57 matches in his last 2 years in Denmark when he was bought

Jordan Ayew- 17 goals in 108 matches for Aston Villa, Swansea and Crystal Palace

And imagine Jordan Ayew was brought in with a 12 million buying clause!!! Any of the above players could be brougt in for less than 10 million.

Edited by mattteo (10 Jan 2019 3.46pm)

So in summary, your 1-3 strikers would be 12/13 a season and your 1-2 strikers 19 a season.

So you are suggesting there are 19 goal a year strikers that Palace can afford that everyone else has missed.

Good luck with that.

I don't disagree that Ayew looks unlikely to contribute much but also think Sorloth needs more than a few cameo appearances before being judged.

I am old so don't have Football Manager of FIfa 19 or whatever people use to make judgements these days just base on what I have seen

Edited by HKOwen (08 Nov 2018 1.38am)

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.

What about Ademola Lookman? I know he's ex-Charlton but he seems desperate to go to a team where he can actually get game time. When he was in Germany playing regularly he was on fire for Leipzig.

Milkshakes Against Fascism

Well, see them for yourself then.

And compare them to these:

BENTEKE:
[Link]

SORLOTH:
[Link]

JORDAN AYEW:
[Link]

If you can't see the difference with the ones below, then I'm really sorry. Just count the number of goals in their last 2 years at least.

LEBO MOTHIBA:
[Link]

NEAL MAUPAY:
[Link]

EMILIANO SALA:
[Link]

MAX KRUSE:
[Link]

BOUNEDJAH:
[Link]

MOUSSA KONE:
[Link]

MBWANA SAMATTA:
[Link]

TIQUINHO SOARES:
[Link]

ALFREDO MORELOS:
[Link]

ROGER ASSALE:
[Link]

LEIGH GRIFFITHS:
[Link]

JOSEF MARTINEZ:
[Link]

ALFRED FINNBOGASON:
[Link]

KHOUMA BABACAR:
[Link]

ALAN:
[Link]

RICARDO GOULART:
[Link]

ALBERTH ELIS:
[Link]

ALEKSANDR KOKORIN:
[Link]

Do you see any lack of determination or attitude in these (with the possible exceptions of Khouma Babacar and Josef Martinez, as mentioned in the first post)?

Do you see any of them unfit or with any signs of their bodies predisposed to getting fat or having an extreme aging effect in the next 2-3 years?

It's not by accident that they're scoring this much this autumn. They are very fit, running their asses off and being exactly what is needed in a league like the PL.

I could have posted others too as there are many good forwards who could be brought in for less than 10 million, but I only focused on the ones who are in great shape right now (with the exception of Kokorin, who would be a target for the summer)

I still don’t get all this concern about who we can sign in January, I never do, there’s so much football to be played between then and now, scoring goals is a problem we need to sort NOW, with what we’ve got, because if we don’t we could be cut adrift at the bottom and it won’t matter who we sign in January because we’ll be doomed. Plus any half decent striker won’t want to come to us anyway if we’re marooned in the bottom 3

Edited by monkey (11 Nov 2018 1.51pm)

Made in Bromley

But we all know how it’ll probably go in January anyway, we won’t splash the cash in case we go down and we’ll make a last minute desperate signing or two on deadline day with another 4 or 5 games having slipped by since the window opened.
We do need to sort this now, then if we do sign a striker in January it’ll just be a bonus and a good addition to the squad rather than whoever it may be being under pressure to be the saviour, hit the ground running and start banging the goals in straight away.

Made in Bromley