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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson eyeing £15m deal for Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe

Palace in the hunt for a striker during the transfer window to help their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Afobe could be available having fallen down the pecking order with the Cherries

CRYSTAL PALACE boss Roy Hodgson wants to sign out-of-favour Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe for £15million in January.

The DR Congo striker has scored 10 goals from 30 starts since joining the south coast club from Wolves for £10m in January 2016.

 Crystal Palace want to sign Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe in January
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Crystal Palace want to sign Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe in JanuaryCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But boss Eddie Howe has never settled on Afobe as his main striker - preferring Callum Wilson and Josh King before signing Jermain Defoe this summer to push him further down the pecking order.

That has left his future in doubt on the south coast, with the club considering cashing in on the 24-year-old when the transfer window opens in January.

Since signing almost two years ago, the Cherries have also had to pay Wolves a further £2m in add-ons, taking the total cost of his signing to £12m.

And a senior source at Palace has revealed to SunSport that they believe a £15m bid would be good money for a fourth-choice striker, giving Bournemouth a £3m profit.

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 Benik Afobe has been forced to settle with being used off the bench by Bournemouth
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Benik Afobe has been forced to settle with being used off the bench by BournemouthCredit: Reuters
 Palace boss Roy Hodgson wants to bring in a striker in the January transfer window
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Palace boss Roy Hodgson wants to bring in a striker in the January transfer windowCredit: AFP

A Palace source said: “Roy is a big fan of Benik’s from when he was playing for the England Under-21s.

"With the club in a pickle at the foot of the table, it is difficult for him to find players to come to the club.


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"But he believes Benik would be perfect because he is not getting much game time at Bournemouth and would be a player that would be hungry for games.”

Since his arrival at Selhurst Park, Hodgson has worked hard to revive the fortunes of his side who were detached at the foot of the Premier League.

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And the squad has responded to the former England boss to the extent they are now within touching distance of climbing out of the bottom three.

But Hodgson knows his side still have problems finding the net, and is hoping to strengthen his attacking options when the transfer window opens in January.

Money will be made available to spend in an effort to help Palace battle their way clear of the drop down to the Championship.

But Hodgson knows he cannot spend £30m on just one player, meaning he is going to have to shop around to pick up a bargain.

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