The addition of the former Tottenham forward could be the solution to Alan Pardew’s striker headache – but he’s unable to provide a long-term solution for any team
After six Premier League games without a Crystal Palace player scoring a single goal, something had to be done.
On Tuesday, after much speculation, Palace officially confirmed their solution was to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a free transfer.
It is an intriguing move, and not just because Palace is a clear step down for the striker, who has featured for Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham.
Based solely on ability and track record, the deal is a no-brainer for Alan Pardew’s side.
Palace have found the back of the net just once in the Premier League since mid-December, and that was an own goal from Jan Vertonghen in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham at Selhurst Park.
Connor Wickham, Dwight Gayle, Marouane Chamakh, Frazier Campbell, Patrick Bamford and Glenn Murray have all been fielded up front by Pardew, but a recognised centre-forward has still not scored from open play in the Premier League this term.
Adebayor, a free agent since leaving Tottenham by mutual consent in September, is almost certain to help alleviate that weakness.
The 31-year-old scored 62 times in 142 appearances during his three-and-a-half years at Arsenal, and 19 in 45 at Manchester City.
His first campaign at Tottenham in 2011/12 brought 18 goals in 37 games, while he also scored 14 in 25 two seasons later under the guidance of Tim Sherwood.
In terms of talent, Adebayor is one of the most naturally gifted players to have ever signed for Palace.
The problem, though, is that the 31-year-old also comes with a great deal of additional baggage. Put simply, a striker of his calibre would not be available on a free transfer if something had not gone wrong somewhere along the line.
Adebayor is a volatile character, someone who cannot always be relied upon to put in the hard yards.
He has fallen out with multiple team-mates and managers, with Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini and Mauricio Pochettino all eventually tiring of the antics that come as part of the overall package. It cannot be insignificant that a host of major clubs have concluded that he is simply not worth the hassle.
Palace’s success in recent years has been built on a tight team spirit and strong collective work ethic, so the addition of a man who has often been accused of laziness and selfishness could easily upset the apple cart.
By only offering Adebayor a deal until the end of the season, the club have at least protected themselves from a situation whereby they are lumbered with a disruptive presence who is not delivering on the pitch on a long and costly contract.
Nevertheless, the signing of the striker is still a risk for Palace and Pardew.
Providing it does not take too long for Adebayor to regain match fitness – the Togo international has played only 17 minutes in the Premier League since January 2014 – he is as close to a guarantee of goals as Palace would ever be capable of landing. The flip side, though, is that he also guarantees chaos and conflict.
With Palace aiming to reignite their push for Europe as the business end of the campaign approaches, they will be hoping that Adebayor focuses purely on the football.
Supporters of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham would probably tell them not to hold their breath for any long-term results.