London club Crystal Palace are reportedly preparing an audacious bid to bring Marseille’s Steve Mandanda to Selhurst Park.
Manager Alan Pardew was alerted to the Frenchman’s availability after he expressed his desire for a new challenge. This is understandable, with Mandanda having spent eight years at Marseille and admitting he would be open to a move to England.
Mandanda, who currently has one year left on his contract at the Stade Velodrome, has said: "I’m happy in Marseille, but my aspiration is to try something different.”
Speroni and Hennessey could be set for the bench
The Eagles currently have veteran stopper Julian Speroni and Wayne Hennessey on the books but with Speroni at the grand old age of 36, and the latter been linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion, Pardew could launch a bid for the £9milion rated Mandanda.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach, Christophe Lollichon, believes that Selhurst Park could be the 30-year-old’s likely destination: “I have heard that Steve wants to come to play in England,” he said. “There are places that could become available."
However, he add that: “I don’t think anything is done, I know Crystal Palace are also looking for a goalkeeper so there are doors that could open for goalkeepers.”
French connection beginning at Palace?
Mandanda is the third French international to be heavily linked with a move to Palace in the last few weeks, with Chelsea’s Loic Remy and PSG’s Yohan Cabaye also rumoured to be nearing a Selhurst switch.
Remy was second-choice to Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge and has begun to consider his future after the arrival of Radamel Falcao on loan. Swansea and West Ham United also joined the race for Remy, who has been valued at £15m, but the Premier League champions have insisted he is not for sale.
Pardew knows Cabaye from his time at Newcastle United and is reportedly eager to reunite with the midfielder after failing to impress at the Parc des Princes. Palace hae reportedly lodged a £9m bid for the 29-year-old.