Crystal Palace have completed the signing of former Leicester City young player of the year Jeffry Schlupp for £12m as Sam Allardyce tries to save the Eagles from the drop.
The Move is a bold one from ‘Big Sam’ as Leicester rejected a £9m bid earlier this week. But, having made just 4 appearances for the champions in the premier league this season, both parties feel the time is right for a new challenge.
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It will be a bittersweet goodbye for the 24-year-old full back. A Leicester City academy graduate in 2010, the Ghanaian was named ‘young player of the year’ by the Foxes 2 years in a row in 2015 and 2016. He also was named ‘players player of the year’ for the 2014/15 season.
A Good Bit Of Business
Sam Allardyce has certainly been called a lot of different things in his career, but bad in the transfer market is not one of them.
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Going back to his days as Bolton Wanderers manager, ‘Big Sam’ has always been seen as shrewd business man, often referred to as the “Del Boy” character from the legendary ‘Only Fools & Horses’ TV show.
The signing of Schlupp is up there with his best deals in his career. As Crystal Palace sit just one point clear of the relegation zone, the need for results is becoming critical. As Hull City are making moves in the transfer market and Sunderland continue to improve the shamed former England manager may face his biggest test yet keeping the Eagles in the top flight.
Leicester City must improve
This deal certainly benefits Palace more than Leicester. The reigning champions are already struggling this season, currently languishing in 15th place a mere 6 points above the relegation zone.
We all knew last season was a fluke, that the Foxes were not joining the ranks of the Premier league’s elite teams on a permanent basis. But few could have predicted they would be hovering so close to the drop zone by January.
The £12m received for the Schlupp deal will not go far towards turning their fortunes around. We know that money is not a problem, spending it wisely is the key.
Claudio Ranieri still has the appeal of Champions League football to tempt players to the midlands. The Italian ‘Tinkerman’ may need at least one good signing in January.
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Should he fail and succumb to the drop, they would be the first champions in English football to get relegated the following year since Manchester City in 1938!