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Despite Roy Hodgson stating that he is satisfied with his current striking options and that there is no need to delve into the transfer market in January, the Eagles could definitely do with some upgrades and, if funds are as limited as Hodgson seems to be indicating, a move for one of the stars of the Championship might be perfect.

Same old Palace

Like last season, the Selhurst Park have once again struggled for goals – indeed, they have found the net just 14 times so far this season, more than Huddersfield only. None of the conventional striker options have netted in the league and midfielder Luka Milivojevic has out-scored everyone else since his arrival in January 2017 – he takes the penalties.

Christian Benteke – a huge £28m purchase from Liverpool in 2016 – kicked off his career in red and blue with a bang as he bagged 17 goals in his maiden season, but has scored just three more in 35 appearances since. Currently out with a knee injury, the big Belgian cannot be relied upon to keep the Eagles up once he returns and neither can the likes of Alexander Sorloth and Jordan Ayew, who have both looked out of their depth.

Both strikers seem to be too small fish to succeed in the Palace pond, but one player who is getting too big for his surroundings is Leeds’ Kemar Roofe.

Roofe on fire

The former Oxford United man is having what is easily the best season of his career as he fires the Peacocks to the top of the Championship table with a whopping 11 goals and two assists in 17 appearances.

After Patrick Bamford sustained an injury at the start of the season, Roofe was near enough a guaranteed starter and has stepped up impeccably but, now Marcelo Bielsa’s summer signing has returned to match fitness, Roofe may find he loses his place to Bamford.

Palace would be mad not to capitalise on this by bringing the 25-year-old and his extraordinary strike rate to Selhurst Park in January, as he would both be a massive upgrade on Benteke and the dream signing for Wilfried Zaha – the Ivorian is a fantastic creator, using his pace and unique dribbling style to get into dangerous areas before firing a cross into the box – who would get plenty of assists, surely.

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