Sunderland striker, Josh Maja is still in the January transfer spotlight of Crystal Palace, despite The Eagles’ coach, Roy Hodgson stressing that he knows nothing about the Nigerian-born attacker.
Sports247.ng learnt that, despite Hodgson’s cynical reaction to inquiries by journalists, Crystal Palace are said to be officially weighing up a bid for Maja, who has turned down a new contract at the Stadium of Light.
In their bid to get Maja, Palace’s sporting director Dougie Freedman will head to the North East to watch the youngster in action against Luton on Saturday as the Selhurst Park club look to bolster their front-line.
This is despite the fact that Palace are also considering a move for Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea, among other key players.
Palace are not the only club in for the Chelsea man though, with Everton also expressing interest after his loan spell at Valencia came to an end.
However, any deal involving Batshuayi and the Toffees would have to be permanent, given they already have Kurt Zouma on loan from Chelsea.
As if to consider the impending exit of Maja, Sunderland have allowed Jerome Sinclair return to Watford early and have offered £250,000 for Wigan striker Will Grigg.
Incidentally, Maja is also a target for Huddersfield, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who want to outbid Palace for his signing.
It is left to be seen if he will end up moving to Palace, as Hodgson claims to be unaware of the player when asked last week, as he replied: “I have never heard of him, sorry.”
