Crystal Palace Transfers: 5 Signings Ian Holloway Must Make To Avoid Relegation

Florent Malouda It could be said that the odds are stacked against Crystal Palace surviving their first season back in the Premier League. After all, they were fortunate to make it back into England's top division anyway after a run of poor form in the latter stage of last season nearly cost them their place in the play-offs, which ultimately they were victorious in. With star player Wilfried Zaha heading to Manchester United and fellow Barclays Premier League new boys Cardiff and Hull looking to bolster their squads, it is clear for all to see that Palace need to make some significant signings in order to stand a chance at staying up. However, if there is one thing that manager Ian Holloway has on his side - it's his personality. The current Palace boss has the advantage that he has been able to build solid relationships with former players which may be the key to why they join Palace rather than other clubs chasing them. The following five players will be not only crucial to Palace's survival chances, but also realistic - Gonzalo Higuain joining the London-based club isn't likely to happen.

5. Tom Ince

One of the most sought-after players of this transfer window, Tom Ince has been linked to many Premier League clubs from Liverpool and Manchester United, to Crystal Palace themselves. As Ince enjoyed a spell under Palace boss Ian Holloway at his current club Blackpool, as well as the likelihood that he will start a great deal of matches at a lower Premier League club as opposed to the top sides in the divison, this may be the reason that Tom favours London over Manchester with a World Cup looming next summer. Tom Ince could be the perfect man to fill the void of Wilfried Zaha, and will likely cost significantly less than the United new boy. The £15 million brought in from Zaha in addition to the funds that come with promotion to the Premier League could lead Holloway to splash the cash on the likes of Ince, and it would be hard for Tom to turn down the chance to play in the top flight rather than stay at Blackpool, who finished in the bottom half of the second tier last season. Many say that Ince has the potential to be an England international and play for some of the biggest clubs in the country, but transitioning from Blackpool to Crystal Palace would be far easier than the transition to a club with the history of Liverpool or United and the expectations that come with this. Alternatively, should Ince sign for Manchester United, a loan deal to Palace would be favourable and give the 21-year-old the chance to play frequently in the top tier of English football. Predicted transfer fee: £4-6million could seal the deal as Ince has 1 year remaining on his contract.
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