Fraizer Campbell set to snub Leicester City for Crystal Palace
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Tony Pulis, 9/2 to help Crystal Palace to a top 10 finish this term, appears to have won the fierce contest for Fraizer Campbell’s services. The current Cardiff City striker is rumoured to be undergoing a medical at Selhurst Park, ahead of signing a proposed three-year deal.
Both Palace and Leicester City saw their bids accepted by the Bluebirds, after triggering a release clause which was reported to be around £900,000. However, Campbell appears to have plumped for a move to London, potentially becoming Pulis’ second acquisition of the summer.
Palace have already snared Blackpool stopper Chris Kettings, but have yet to make any other moves in the transfer market. Pulis, who won the Premier League Manager Award last term, after steering relegation-threatened Palace to safety, will most certainly be hoping to make further additions.
His side have recently been linked with a loan deal that would see current Manchester United winger, and former Palace hero, Wilfried Zaha return to Selhurst Park. However, Louis van Gaal’s appointment at Old Trafford may have placed any prospective transfer on the backburner.
Capturing Campbell, who netted nine times for Cardiff last season, would be a boost for the south London side, who only managed 33 goals in 38 league outings.
A United academy product, Campbell has a vast amount of top flight experience, having also enjoyed stints at Spurs, Sunderland and Cardiff, amongst others.
The 26-year-old, Huddersfield-born forward, capped once by England, only joined the Bluebirds last season. However, after Cardiff suffered relegation to the Championship, the club seem resigned to losing their best players.
Chile’s World Cup star Gary Medel looks set to join Italian giants Inter Milan or Turkish club Galatasary, following new QPR centre back Steven Caulker, who was also linked with Palace, out of the Cardiff City Stadium.
Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already seems to have prepared for Campbell’s exit, having made several striker signings. The Red Devils legend has snapped up former United forward Federico Macheda, as well as Adam Le Fondre and Javi Guerra.
Newly promoted side Leicester, meanwhile, appear to have missed out on a bargain buy in Campbell. The striker has 68 career goals in 218 appearances, and would have fitted seamlessly into a side which contains a number of former Red Devils youth products.
Midfield maestro Matty James, older brother of current United academy star Reece, was a key component for the Foxes last campaign, as they won the Championship and automatically secured promotion.
James’ teammate Danny Drinkwater also received his footballing education with the Red Devils, and was rewarded for his excellent performances last term by being crowned Leicester Player of the Season.
Belgian defender Ritchie de Laet is another Foxes star who had a brief stint in the red half of Manchester, with versatile clubmate Jeff Schlupp also enjoying a trial at the club.
Despite apparently failing to lure poacher Campbell to the King Power Stadium, Leicester have recruited heavily so far, scooping up Marc Albrighton, ex-Red Devil starlet Jack Barmby, Ben Hamer and Matthew Upson on free transfers.
Argentine attacker Leonardo Ulloa, who cost a reported £8m, is Foxes boss Nigel Pearson’s most pricey addition so far, as Leicester, 13/5 to be relegated, reinforce their squad ahead of the new season.
