Pardew could make big name signing



Pardew has slapped a price tag as high as £60million on winger Yannick Bolasie, with Liverpool reportedly interested in the in-form 25-year-old.

The Palace boss has drawn up a clear transfer strategy with chairman Steve Parrish, which will again be centred around digging out high-value recruits.

Former Newcastle manager Pardew did however concede that a high-profile signing could be just the kind of statement of intent the Selhurst Park club need to cement their Premier League authority.

"I think that is a good point actually," said Pardew when asked if a well-known recruit would boost the club.

"Maybe that is a solution to not just give us a better media standing than we have, but to also give everybody else here the recognition in terms of their value, that we could attract a player of that type.

"That is something I have thought about."

Pardew is adamant Palace's top stars are vastly undervalued by their top-flight rivals, and is intent on changing perceptions the most straightforward way - setting higher demands.

That blunt strategy fully underscores Pardew rating Bolasie - signed from Bristol City for around £400,000 in 2011 - at £20million last week, and between £40million and £60million this.

While Palace may seek to break the £7million club transfer record set with the September 2014 arrival of James McArthur from Wigan, Pardew is loath to do so lightly.

"It isn't just about the money and isn't just about the figure that you pay," said Pardew.

"It really is about are they better than what you have.

"Therefore what is their value? And that is what you have to gauge.

"I have to say this club has done very well in the transfer market prior to me coming in

I think in that window just passed we bought really well, but really we haven't seen them.

"I haven't had to lean on Shola Ameobi, Jordon Mutch, Chungy (Lee Chung-yong) too much really.

"And I really did think, particularly in Shola, that he was going to be a massive player for us if it got close.

"In a way the team have taken that equation away."

Pardew has guided Palace out of the relegation mire since his January arrival, with the Eagles fifth in the Premier League standings on 2015's fixtures alone.

Victory over Hull in Saturday's Selhurst Park clash would rubber-stamp Palace's top-flight safety, and Pardew admitted he is eager to make what experiments he can with next term in mind.

"There could be an opportunity to look for next year and that is what I am going to do between now and the end of the year," he said.

"I will try and keep our professionalism together, but also look at Chungy and Jordon Mutch and how they are going to impact on what is a good team at the moment.

"We still have some big games though, so I have to look at that and can't be experimenting in some.

"It is about making sure whatever team goes out there is every bit as good as the team that has played in the last few weeks."

Source : PA

Source: PA