Crystal Palace have several outstanding young prospects coming through the academy at the moment, including young winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
The 21-year-old is one of the best young talents at the club right now, and had an excellent loan spell at Charlton in League One last season, scoring 15 goals and providing nine assists.
The winger has missed a chunk of this season with injury, but has returned to training ahead of Tuesday’s important game against Sheffield United.
However, there is a chance he could leave on loan again in this January transfer window, as Championship high-flyers Southampton are now keen on the youngster.
Southampton are interested in loan deal for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
A report from London News Online has now claimed that Southampton, who are gunning for promotion back to the Premier League under Russell Martin, are keen on a loan deal for the right-winger.
Leicester had previously agreed a deal with him, but the departure of Wilfried Zaha meant that he stayed at the club, and he made eight appearances before picking up a hamstring injury this season.
It is currently unclear what the club’s stance will be on a January exit for the academy graduate, but Palace fans will likely not react well to a bright young talent heading out whilst the senior wingers continue to disappoint.
Crystal Palace need to keep and play Rak-Sakyi
When he returns to full fitness, Palace simply need to give Rak-Sakyi a chance in the first-team. With the likes of Jeffrey Schlupp and Will Hughes disappointing on the wings, a fresh face in the talented youngster would provide a rare positive this season.
Roy Hodgson came under fire for criticising Rak-Sakyi after a substitute appearance, as he threw the club’s younger players under the bus and blamed them for the team’s defeat. Fans defiantly voted the winger as the club’s player of the month in October as a result, and remain in support of the academy starlet.
Former Charlton manager Dean Holden, who managed Rak-Sakyi on loan last season, described him as “phenomenal,” and it is clear that Palace have a huge prospect on their hands. The next step should be to play him regularly rather than loan him out, but if Hodgson is going to ignore him, then he may be better served spending the rest of this season away from Selhurst Park.
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