Why Jean Kevin-Augustin would be a smart buy for Crystal Palace

According to a report from Sky Sports, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are interested in signing RB Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Jean-Kevin Augustin, 22, has been on the books of RB Leipzig since 2017 when he joined from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

He has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place and scored three goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances last season as Leipzig finished third place to secure a place in the Champions League.

The report adds Leipzig are willing to sell the Frenchman, but the Bundesliga outfit want £15million as transfer fee. That being said, Crystal Palace should beat Aston Villa to the signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Crystal Palace struggled for goals last season and manager Roy Hodgson is desperate to add to his attack before the transfer deadline.

The Eagles are short up front with Christian Benteke still unfit and Michy Batshuayi having returned from his loan spell to Chelsea. Hodgson has also allowed Alexander Sorloth to join Turkish club Trabzonspor on loan until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Jean-Kevin Augustin would be a good fit at Selhurst Park. After a solid debut season at Leipzig, Augustin has struggled for regular game time and a switch to Crystal Palace could bring the best out of him.

The Frenchman has all the traits to be a top centre-forward in the coming years and his versatility would allow Roy Hodgson to give him more chances in the Premier League next season. In the Palace side, Augustin would certainly thrive.

He would compete with Christian Benteke for a place up front or operate as a secondary striker with Wilfried Zaha if Hodgson decides to play a flat 4-4-2.

The 22-year-old will add a lot of pace, skill, energy and movement to the Eagles’ attack, whilst bringing in a much-needed competition for the players.

A front three of Townsend, Augustin and Zaha with Meyer being the creative outlet just behind them will form a deadly attacking quartet for Palace who will be capable of breaking down the most rigid of defences in the Premier League next season.

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Despite his struggles last term, the versatile Frenchman has a respectable tally of 20 goals and eight assists in 67 appearances for Leipzig, so perhaps he could make a big impact at Selhurst Park in the 2019/20 campaign.

Verdict

After spending an inconsistent couple of years with Leipzig, a move to Palace could help Augustin to reignite his career. The striker is only 22 and certainly has the best years ahead of him, but he’ll need to work hard and nail down a place in Hodgson’s starting XI if a deal is struck.