Mutch ado about Shola: Crystal Palace sign midfielder and striker

Crystal Palace, 9/2 with Coral to be relegated, have completed the signings of QPR midfielder Jordon Mutch and Nigeria international free agent Shola Ameobi.

Mutch, 23, crosses London from Loftus Road for a reported fee of £4.75m. Former Newcastle United target man Ameobi, meanwhile, is rumoured to have snubbed West Bromwich Albion to sign for the Eagles for nothing.

Ex-Birmingham City and Cardiff City midfielder Mutch has joined Palace until the summer of 2019, with frontman Ameobi, 33, staying at Selhurst Park for the rest of this season.

Alan Pardew had previously chased unsettled Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis and Blackburn Rovers top scorer Rudy Gestede, but has plumped for Premier League experience in Ameobi, who spent almost 20 years on the books at Newcastle.

Injuries disrupted Mutch’s spell with QPR, but he scored seven times for Cardiff in the top flight last term before enduring relegation. He will link up with old Bluebirds teammate Fraizer Campbell at the Eagles.

Palace are also expected to wrap up the signing of Lille and Senegal international left back Pape Souare well in advance of the transfer window slamming shut at 23:00 GMT on Monday, February 2nd. Pardew is lacking a natural left-footed option in that position.

In the Eagles engine room, Mutch will compete with the likes of Barry Bannan, Adlene Guedioura, Joe Ledley, James McArthur and club captain Mile Jedinak, who is preparing for the Asian Cup final with hosts Australia, for a staring spot.

Ameobi has Campbell, Marouane Chamakh, Dwight Gayle and loan signing Yaya Sanogo for company in attack. Now that he has signed for Palace, Glenn Murray is expected to leave and is a £2m target for Reading, where he has spent time on loan earlier in the campaign.

These are the kind of signings Palace have needed to make if they are to push on away from relegation danger and mount a bid for a top 10 finish (11/1).