Blackburn’s Gestede just the start as Pardew plans Palace spree

Crystal Palace fans can expect some new arrivals at Selhurst Park over the coming days, with new manager Alan Pardew reportedly keen to make four new signings.

The former Newcastle boss is looking to put his stamp on the Palace squad and is rumoured to have already made a bid for Blackburn Rovers’ top scorer Rudy Gestede.

The bid, thought to be in the region of £3.5m, was rejected by the Ewood Park club but Pardew is expected to return with an improved offer.

Gestede, 26, made just three Premier League appearances for Cardiff in the 2013-14 season but has put in some hugely impressive displays since switching Wales for Lancashire.

The Frenchman has hit eight goals in 13 Championship games this season and Pardew hopes he can bring that form into the top flight to boost the Eagles’ survival chances.

Gestede is not the only Championship player on Pardew’s radar, however, with Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong also touted as a target for the south-east Londoners.

Linked with a move to Liverpool after the 2010 World Cup, the tricky South Korean winger has since suffered serious injury but is now back to full fitness, scoring three and providing three assists for the Trotters so far this term.

Pardew also has some more ambitious signings on the horizon, with Stephane Mbia and Anthony Modeste the subject of his interest.

Former QPR midfielder Mbia is currently on a short-term contract with Sevilla and has expressed a desire to return to England.

The 28-year-old, currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon, still owns a flat in London and feels he has a point to prove.

His agent, Jean-Paul Ndoumin, told the Daily Mail: “Stephane feels the Premier League didn’t see the best of him at QPR and he wants to put that right.

“He doesn’t want to wait until the last minute; he is ready to move now.”

Finally, Pardew is also mulling over a move for Hoffenheim striker Modeste after the German club reportedly offered his services to Palace, Sunderland, Swansea and Hull.

The 26-year-old Frenchman struggled during a 2012 loan spell with Blackburn, but has since excelled at Bastia – where he scored 15 goals in 36 games – and in the Bundesliga, where he has netted 14 times in 32 appearances for 1899.

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