Crystal Palace shocked a lot of people last summer when they signed a French international who had previously been linked to Man United and Arsenal. They could be about to do it again.
L'Equipe is suggesting that French backup goalkeeper, Steve Mandanda - who has expressed a desire to leave Marseille - is in talks with the Eagles. As recently as January, both Liverpool and Chelsea were linked with a move for the 31-year-old stopper.
Mandanda has been long linked with a move to a European heavyweight, and after his exploits have almost single handedly brought the best out of Marseille - he's had enough. Palace have been keen on him for a long time, and now it seems he's entertaining the idea of a move to south London.
Villarreal and Everton are said to be monitoring the situation, but that Pardew's Palace have begun 'advanced talks' with the goalkeeper who would represent a big upgrade over Alex McCarthy and Wayne Hennessey. According to L'Equipe, Palace are offering more money than Everton, and Mandanda is put off by the presence of Sergio Asenjo as a rival to the starting spot at Villarreal.
It would be another massive coup for Pardew, as he tries to replicate the Eagles' form of 2015, not the lacklustre run post Christmas.
