‘Good leader’: Sam Allardyce thinks 30-year-old Crystal Palace target is ‘quality’ amid reports

Sat 10 July 2021 20:15, UK Updated Tue 13 July 2021 10:15, UK

According to , Crystal Palace are interested in signing West Brom defender Kyle Bartley, after the Baggies suffered relegation.

The Eagles are looking to strengthen their backline after allowing Gary Cahill and Scott Dann’s contracts to expire.

In Bartley, Dougie Freedman clearly feels there’s a bargain to be had.

One man who has an association with Crystal Palace, Sam Allardyce, sounds like a huge fan of Bartley.

, the ex-England manager said: “He is coming to the age I think where his experience and his quality is standing out.

“He is a good talker and a good leader and we all know there aren’t many of them about these days.”

Bartley made Premier League appearances for the Baggies last season, scoring goals and providing assist.

He stood out as one of the club’s better performers, despite West Brom’s relegation to the Championship.

The recently claimed that Crystal Palace are actively trying to lower the average age of their squad.

More signings in the mould of Ebere Eze, Nathan Ferguson and Michael Olise are preferred by those at Selhurst Park.

In that respect, what’s the point in signing Bartley?

The Englishman is 30 years of age, and isn’t good enough to arrive in SE25 and dislodge the likes of James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate.

Patrick Vieira would be far better off signing a younger option.

Or, failing that, if he is looking for an experienced head, why not re-sign Cahill or Dann?

In our view, a move for Bartley wouldn’t make sense at all.

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