Crystal Palace boss Pardew rubbishes transfer speculation

Alan Pardew says all of the names Crystal Palace have been linked with signing this January are wide of the mark.

Palace have been linked with the likes of QPR striker Charlie Austin, Norwich winger Nathan Redmond and on-loan Southampton defender Steven Caulker.

However Pardew insists none of these reports have any substance.

“I’ve seen all the names that have been linked with us and not one of them is true. Perhaps someone is giving out false information. We are looking at one or two, but not them,” he said.

“We all know the prize of staying in the Premier League this summer, so all the clubs will make a move who need to. There’s less pressure on us.

“[Chairman] Steve Parish and myself are in contact every day talking about the issues we have. This market will be very very difficult. Not just for me, but for all Premier League teams.

“I just want them to be good enough to play for CPFC. What’s the point in bringing in strikers that aren’t better than the ones I’ve got?”

Palace travel to Pardew’s former club Southampton on Saturday for the third round of the FA Cup and the 54-year-old says the competition is “massive” for the club.

The Eagles will be without strikers Dwight Gale and Connor Wickham at St Mary’s but Bacary Sako should return.

“It’s a massive competition for myself, growing up with the FA Cup,” he said. “It’s the trophy of the utmost importance to me. It’s massive for me, massive for our fans and our players.

“We’re going to try for a cup run. We’d have liked an easier draw, but there’s not much we can do about that. We’ll have 5,000 fans down there, so we have to do them proud.

“Sako’s important because he can get a goal out of nothing. He’s a weapon I haven’t had for 5 or 6 games. He’s got a shot in both feet that has more venom than 95% of the Premier League.”