With Papé Souré’s footballing future in doubt following his road accident and Zeki Fryers still not deemed ready to be a starting left-back at Crystal Palace, right-back Joel Ward has had to step into the role.
As Ward isn’t a natural in the position, there is a good chance Alan Pardew will want to look for a new left-back in January, and the English manager already appears to have a target in mind.
According to SFR Sport in France, Crystal Palace have, alongside both Newcastle and Sunderland, regularly sent scouts to Bordeaux in order to watch Maxime Poundjé play.
The 24-year-old left-back has been in and out of the squad for the Ligue 1 side this season due to a couple of injuries, making only six appearances so far.
However, those, combined with his 14 league matches last season, appear to have been enough for Pardew to make his mind up and add him to a list of potential targets for the upcoming transfer window.
Considering Bordeaux also have to deal with former Bayern Munich defender Diego Contento wanting to leave for Italy, they might be reluctant to let both their left-backs go in one window unless they can find replacement fairly quickly and easily.
That, however, isn’t likely to happen.
