Why Scott Arfield should snub Brighton in favour of a move to Crystal Palace
Brighton and Crystal Palace enjoy a pretty firm rivalry and these days, they get to eyeball each other across their modern day Premier League stadia. It appears they are now locked in an off-field battle to attract Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield south.
The 29-year-old now has less than six months left on his current deal at Turf Moor and would, therefore, be available on a free transfer in the summer.
According to reports available in various places online, Burnley have offered Arfield a new contract to extend his stay in the north-west. However, the Canadian international player is yet to agree to the terms laid down for him and is considering a move.
Although both south-east clubs are very interested in acquiring his services, neither has come forward with a firm offer. There is even a third possibility for Arfield in this part of the country, with West Ham manager being a long time admirer of Arfield’s, having attempted to sign him during a previous incantation as manager of Sunderland.
Moyes has not spoken publicly about Arfield this time around but did mention in December that he was keen on adding to his squad this month as he goes about trying to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
Palace, however, are confirmed suitors of Arfield and boss Roy Hodgson is eager to add more quality to his side, having suffered crucial losses via injury, namely to Andros Townsend, Scott Dann, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jason Puncheon.
There may be a scattergun approach coming from Hodgson, who admitted after his side’s bitterly disappointing 2-1 FA Cup reverse against Brighton that he could be in the market for as many as six or seven players in January, Arfield being just one on the shortlist.
Brighton too need to add to their list of underwhelming but admirable players in order to survive this league with Arfield more carefully picked out, in this case, to help improve the squad.
With that in mind, Arfield will probably be more highly thought of at Brighton and will be there for the long haul, whereas he could be just one of a number of new faces at Selhurst Park and may find himself surplus to requirements rather quickly should players recover from injury.
That being said, I can see Palace playing their way out of trouble without a problem but Brighton perhaps dropping gradually towards the dreaded trapdoor. So with self-preservation in mind, it may well be that he chooses Palace.