Andros Townsend looks set to sign a new deal with Crystal Palace just a day after admitting that he was open to making a move to Celtic. Townsend was not offered a new deal by the Selhurst Park outfit at the end of last season as it appeared that Nuno Espirito Santo would be taking over; however, talks with the ex-Wolves boss broke down and Swiss manager Lucien Farve is now the frontrunner for the job.
According to The Athletic, Townsend, Gary Cahill and Joel Ward will be offered a new deal with Favre keen to keep the veteran trio ahead of the new season. Townsend, 29, was signed by Palace from Newcastle in 2016 for £13m and has 16 goals and 28 assists in 185 appearances for the London club. Just yesterday, the player said that he would be keen on making a switch to the SPFL if an offer was made but this appears to have just been using Celtic as a stalking horse to force a deal from Palace.
Townsend told Jim White on Talksport about the possibility of a move to Celtic but now it appears that he will remain in the Premier League.
“I’m open to everything. If there’s an option that presents itself and it’s the best one for me and fulfils my needs, I wouldn’t turn it down just because it’s in another country.”
Celtic need to ramp up their recruitment drive in the coming weeks having taken time to identify the best talent available. The recruitment needs to be spot on in the coming weeks as it will have an enormous impact in a years time when the trophies are being counted at the end of the season. After last year, there can be no margin for error.
