Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is set to leave the club in January, with Crystal Palace hoping to secure a loan move for the player.
The one-cap England international has found playing time hard to come by at Anfield this season, sitting behind Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in the back-up forward pecking order. He made 27 appearances for The Reds in all competitions last season, mostly from the substitute's bench.
Crystal Palace chairman today confirmed the club were trying to bring the former-Chelsea man in, telling Sky Sports:
We're trying. These things are never straightforward, are they? We're really trying to get someone in early. If we can it will make a big difference and lift everybody. For once, the papers are not miles off.
After today's 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea, Palace boss Roy Hodgson was also asked about the possible deal. He spoke very highly of the player, adding that his arrival would be a massive boost for the club.
It's obviously not a secret that's he's a target and someone we'd like to have. What would he do for us? He'd provide the attacking threat a good centre-forward should provide and he's a proven goalscorer through the age groups with Chelsea and England.
If he comes here, it will be a great opportunity to show he can transfer that to Premier League football because we have someone who is the profile we are looking for and who I think has the ability we are looking for.
Crystal Palace are not the only club interested in his services, with Huddersfield and Steven Gerrard's Rangers also keeping tabs on the situation. Crystal Palace would seem the best option of those three, with regular playing time in the Premier League a must in order for Solanke to develop further.
Liverpool are certainly not short on options up front, and a loan move seems to make sense for all parties.
Solanke has earned one senior England cap, coming on as a substitute against Brazil in November 2017. He has been a regular goalscorer at all youth levels, including winning the Golden Ball as England were victorious in the U20 World Cup in the summer of 2017.
