Crystal Palace work on switch surprises however assault should not be the main target
Tying Michael Olise all the way down to a four-year contract was a serious coup for the Eagles, and when requested whether or not he expects extra good news earlier than the switch window closes, Hodgson once more heaped reward on Parish and Freedman.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they had some more [planned]”, he mentioned, including: “They’re good in those last weeks of the transfer window.”
But Palace followers will hope any new additions will not be restricted to attacking reinforcements. Wilfried Zaha’s transfer to Galatasaray and Olise’s new deal have felt like distractions from an equally urgent matter additional again.
The approach centre-back pair Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen saved Arsenal at bay from open play on Monday evening was indicative of their excellence all through a lot of final season, notably in Palace’s impressed run-in below Hodgson.
What occurs if one among them picks up an harm, although? And what if the membership obtain a really profitable bid for both participant earlier than deadline day — one that may be daft to show down? Guehi is of curiosity to many.
It is evident that neither, in the intervening time, want changing. Guehi ranked twenty second and Andersen was 56th for tackles made within the defensive third amongst all Premier League gamers final season.
They had been each within the league’s prime 12 gamers for clearances made, with Andersen inserting third. Tottenham’s curiosity in each gamers this summer season factors to the extent at which each are working.
It can be true that new signing Jefferson Lerma is already forming a formidable midfield partnership with the much-courted Cheick Doucoure, and full-backs Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell have proven themselves to be glorious defenders.
Yet Freedman should nonetheless look to strengthen on the coronary heart of defence. Squad depth is simply as necessary as having a robust beginning XI.
Palace’s cowl for Guehi and Andersen consists virtually completely of James Tomkins, the 34-year-old who final month agreed, for the second successive summer season, to remain on for one more yr.
United States worldwide Chris Richards has not settled since becoming a member of from Hoffenheim in 2022, and Palace are prepared to mortgage him out after making simply 9 league appearances to this point.
Palace look set for one more profitable season, as their opening-weekend win at Sheffield United and Monday’s efficiency towards Arsenal demonstrated.
Freedman and Parish should bolster Hodgson’s defensive reserves to make sure that is feasible.