Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after Alan Nixon reported that Connor Wickham is emerging as the ‘striker target’ at the top of Sheffield Wednesday’s list and is ‘most likely’ to join the Owls on loan, with the Eagles prepared to ‘play ball’.
Sheff Wed. Connor Wickham emerging as the striker target at top of list and most likely. Loan. Palace may well play ball.
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) January 9, 2020
The Englishman has endured a turbulent time with injuries over the last three years, never really recovering properly from anterior cruciate ligament damage suffered in the first-half of a chaotic 5-4 defeat to Swansea back in November 2016.
Wickham managed to make just six Premier League appearances last season – all from the bench – while he has only managed four substitute outings in the top-flight this term, scoring one goal.
The 26-year-old spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the past while owned by Sunderland, and managed to score eight goals in 11 Championship appearances as a 20-year-old.
However, allowing Wickham to depart Selhurst Park right now would leave Roy Hodgson with just two senior strikers in Jordan Ayew and Christian Benteke, although a loan deal for Cenk Tosun is reportedly ‘close’.
Let’s see how the Palace fans on Twitter reacted to Nixon’s news on the former Ipswich forward…
If he goes we must sign 2 strikers
— Ben Hopkins (@benh199225) January 9, 2020
Can’t see it. Would leave us far too short. Roy will want to take a good look at whoever comes in … providing someone even does.
— Peter Howard (@PeterHoward01) January 9, 2020
These two fans echoed our aforementioned point that a departure for Wickham would leave Hodgson short in attack, with Ben saying that Palace “must sign” two strikers if the Englishman goes.
Another supporter named Peter said that he “can’t see it” as it would “leave us far too short”.
Because we have a surplus strikers…🙄
— Selhurst Exile (@ExileSelhurst) January 9, 2020
If Benteke is back soon & Tosun arrives it would be the right move for everybody. He needs to drop a level & get game time after so long out.
— carl (@Carl_Unofficial) January 9, 2020
Furthermore, one supporter with the username ‘Selhurst Exile’ sarcastically said that the south Londoners have a surplus of strikers before using the ‘eye-roll’ emoji to reinforce their apparent point that it would be foolish to let him leave right now.
Another argued against that point by saying that it would be the right move for everybody if Benteke is back from injury soon and Tosun arrives – they also stated that Wickham “needs to drop a level & get game time”.
#swfc want Connor Wickham
If we didn’t have a massive injury crisis, then yeah, I’d let him go
However, CW has more assists (1) & more goals (1) than Christain Benteke, so I’d rather keep him#cpfc
— Jonsta (@Jonsta1990) January 10, 2020
This fan named ‘Jonsta’ said that he’d prefer to keep Wickham, as the striker has a better record than Benteke this season with a goal and an assist to his name, whereas the Belgian hasn’t been involved in a single goal.
Put @ConnorWickham10 in starting line up , hes just got back to fitness , give the lad a chance
— Jakcpfc (@jakcpfc) January 9, 2020
Lastly, this supporter also argued in favour of keeping Wickham at the club, saying “give the lad a chance”.
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In other news, these Crystal Palace fans have been discussing the Eagles’ transfer interest in a player also being targeted by Champions League side Atletico Madrid…
