Crystal Palace now plotting move for 30-cap int’l striker who held talks to join Man Utd

Crystal Palace are now considering a summer move for AJ Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future up in the air.

Crystal Palace eyeing new striker to replace Mateta

It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for Mateta, given that a move to AC Milan fell through late in the January transfer window, and he has struggled on the injury front, missing six Premier League games due to a knee issue.

However, the Frenchman has shown glimpses of quality in recent weeks, scoring in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final triumph against Fiorentina, and bagging a brace in a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United.

Jorgen Strand Larsen, on the other hand, hasn’t exactly made a flying start to life with the Eagles, failing to score in his last five Premier League games, although the Norwegian did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 3-1 Europa Conference League semi-final victory against Shakhtar Donetsk.

There has now been a new update on Crystal Palace’s summer transfer plans, with a report from Africa Foot (via Sport Witness), revealing they want to bring in a striker, given that Mateta remains keen on joining a new club this summer.

Palace are open to selling the France international, and they are plotting a move for a Ligue 1 star as a replacement, namely AJ Auxerre’s Lassine Sinayoko.

The Eagles’ need to bring in a new striker is exacerbated by the fact Christantus Uche is set to return to Getafe upon the end of his loan spell, barring a shock twist, after failing to score in 14 Premier League appearances this season.

Sinayoko, on the other hand, has regularly been on the scoresheet in Ligue 1, netting nine goals, while also providing four assists in 30 appearances.

The Malian is also established at international level, finding the net on ten occasions in 30 appearances for his country, and he has been lauded as “strong” by journalist Saikou Seydi.

Palace going all out to win Europa Conference League

In the wake of the 3-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, Oliver Glasner suggested the victory against Shakhtar in Poland took it out of his side.

“Today the tank was empty. We could see it. The players tried and the second-half was much better, it was a game on the same level. First-half it was too much. We couldn’t get the turnaround from Thursday evening. The players tried, but I could see it at set plays and the easy mistakes we made.

With Palace competing to win a European trophy for the first time in their history, it is no surprise their form in the Premier League has gone downhill, and they hold a two-goal advantage over Shakhtar heading into the second leg at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.