Palace linked with two wide men

Crystal Palace have been linked with Robert Snodgrass and Stewart Downing in a transfer triangle.

According to a report in The Guardian Sam Allardyce has looked at those two options to fill the gap created by the likely transfer of Andros Townsend to Newcastle.

Downing looks to be the more likely transfer target since he is available on loan from Middlesbrough.

Allardyce worked closely with Downing at West Ham and would love to have the winger boosting Palace’s survival hopes.

Middlesbrough will be looking for a loan fee but after various frustrations in negotiations over other transfer targets Downing would seem a relatively straightforward deal.

Palace would face competition from Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Ham for Snodgrass but it seems that the first bid of £10m will be accepted by Hull City.

The Scotland internationalist turned down the offer of a new contract before Christmas but Hull then enforced a 12 month extension to his deal.