Puncheon’s a Permanent Eagle

Jason Puncheon has signed permanently for Crystal Palace after a successful 6-month loan spell with the Eagles.

The 27-year-old winger has been in fantastic form since the start of the new year, scoring in 3 of his last 4 matched in a run that has seen the South Londoners climb to 14^th in the Barclays Premier League table.

The former Millwall, QPR, and Southampton player has arrives for an undisclosed fee and has signed a four and a half year deal.

He told the official Crystal Palace website: “It’s great to sign a permanent deal, it’s something I dreamt about when I was a kid so I’m pleased to get it done. I was here when I was eight years old when the likes of Dean Gordon and Chris Armstrong were here so that makes its special.”

“The massive factor in this was the chairman and the manager, the gaffer has shown great faith in me since he’s been here and that’s been unbelievable for me. “

“It’s a boost for me mentally – I thought it might happen at the end of the season but it’s come quicker and obviously that’s good for both me and the football club.”

Hennessey Becomes Palaces First Deadline Day Signing

Welsh international goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has signed for Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee believed to be on the region of £3 million.

The six foot six keeper has signed from League One Wolves and has put pen to paper on a three and a half year contract at Selhurst Park, that will see the Welshman stay at the club until 2017.

He has represented his country on 41 occasions, as well as amassing 166 games for his club, including three seasons competing in the Premier League. He will look to provide first choice goalkeeper Julian Speroni with some much needed cover, and will in all likelihood succeed the Argentine stopper when he hangs up his gloves.

Speaking to the official Crystal Palace website Hennessey said: “I’m delighted to be here, I’ve met some of the lads and the staff already so I’m just looking forward to getting out onto the training pitch now.”

“I know Danny Gabbidon well and he’s been telling me what the place is all about. He said it’s a fantastic club and that I should get down here so I’m over the moon it’s happened”

Palace in Pole Position in Race for Ince

Crystal Palace are now firm favourites to land the much coveted England Under-21 and Blackpool player Thomas Ince after the two clubs reached an agreement earlier today.

The winger will join the Eagles, who currently sit 14^th in the Premier League table, on a loan deal until the end of season reportedly costing £1 million. Ince who has already discussed personal terms with the club will have a medical and complete the deal on deadline day tomorrow, and could go straight into the match day squad for the game against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

Ince, who has netted seven times in the league this season for the Seasiders, has been linked to a host of Premier League clubs during the window, including former club Liverpool, as Blackpool look to make some money before his contract expires in the summer.  Palace though look to have won the race for his signature, much to the delight of the fans who in a recent Eating the Burger poll voted unanimously in favour of the winger joining their team.

Gerry Francis, Palace’s first team coach, has also sung Ince’s praises, saying: “He’s an exciting player, scores goals, which is really important and very pleased to see him on board.”

“Very pleased obviously. We’ve got to dot the Is and cross the Ts a little bit at the moment, but obviously very pleased that Tom’s able to come into the club.”

Grandin Released and Hunt Joins Barnsley On-Loan

With deadline day looming large Crystal Palace have seen two fringe players depart Selhurst Park within the last twenty-four hours.

First to go is French winger Elliot Grandin, who has been released on a free transfer having amassed just one Carling Cup appearance for the Eagles since signing in the summer. Grandin was brought in by former Palace boss Ian Holloway, who he also played for whilst both were at Blackpool. But with the form of wingers Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie in recent weeks it was clear that the Frenchman did not fit in with new manager Tony Pulis’s long term plans.

The other player to depart is young full-back Jack Hunt,22, who joins his fellow Eagle Peter Ramage on-loan at Oakwell. Championship strugglers Barnsley are hoping the defender can help sure up what has been a leaky defence this season, whilst Palace will hope Hunt can get some regular game time under his belt after missing much of the season through injury.

Hunt, who signed for Palace in the summer from Huddersfield, will complete a three month stay with the Tykes, before returning to SE25 with a view to challenging once again for that coveted starting birth at right-back.

Pulis Dismisses ‘quit’ Claims

Tony Pulis today quashed rumours that he was on the brink of walking away from Selhurst Park after a torrid transfer window in which the Eagles have failed to bring in a single player. Murmurs of a breakdown in communication between Steve Parish, the Palace co-chairman, and manager Pulis were said to be behind the Welshman wanting to quit SE25, especially regarding disagreements over transfer policy.

After taking charge of the south Londoners just two months ago in November, he has guided the relegation favourites away from the drop zone, amassing 4 wins from his first 10 league games in the process. Despite this fantastic start, Pulis has struggled in the window to secure any of his first choice transfer targets that he says are needed to bolster the team’s survival chances going into the final 17 games of the season.

However, Pulis today has attempted to silence the rumours of unrest as he looks to steady the ship in the run up to the crucial home game with Hull City on Tuesday evening.

He said, when asked about quitting the side: “I’m not one of those people. I spent 10 years at Stoke.”

“I’ll say this now, the supporters have been absolutely wonderful, absolutely fantastic. There would have to be a massive reason to leave and let them down. I’d find that very difficult to do.”

Despite this he still understands the importance of completing some transfers in the final week of the window. He said: “We’ve been working very, very hard to identify players and I’m sure it will be busy come the end of the week.

“I think we need to bring in four or five players, and I’m not talking about spending money on one of them that is extortionate, I’m talking about trying to bring players in who have a little bit of experience in the Premier League but also have something to prove.”

“Hopefully, by the end of the week, we’ll bring some players in.”