Crystal Palace line up Blackburn star to replace injured Cheikh Doucoure but may have to settle for loan transfer

LOAN players may be the option to boost Crystal Palace’s squad.

The Eagles were after a right-back and striker but now need midfield cover due to Cheick Doucoure’s injury.

Top targets like Blackburn’s Adam Wharton are too dear but Palace can take two on loan from Premier League clubs, so they plan to focus efforts in that market.

Rovers youngster Wharton has excelled in the middle of the park under Jon Dahl Tomasson at Ewood Park.

SunSport revealed Palace, Newcastle, Brighton and Everton were all interested in making January swoops for the 19-year-old, who is also a reported target for Tottenham.

Doucoure is expected to miss the rest of the season in a major blow to Roy Hodgson.

The Malian ace, 23, snapped his Achilles in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Luton while seemingly innocuously passing the ball unchallenged.

He screamed in pain and was taken off on a stretcher before being spotted leaving Kenilworth Road on crutches and wearing a protective boot before scans revealed the extent of the damage.

And that leaves a gaping hole in the 12th-placed Eagles' midfield.

That is despite the arrival of Jefferson Lerma in the summer.

FREE BETS - BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES

Palace's two recognised right-backs are Nathaniel Clyne, 32, and Joel Ward, 34.

However, the pair's contracts both expire in the summer.

An extra striker remains on Hodgson's New Year wishlist.

Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta have shared the No9 responsibilities so far this term.

Edouard, 25, has five Premier League goals in 12 appearances.

But Mateta is yet to get off the mark from ten games - totalling just shy of 400 minutes.