Crystal Palace could secure Roy Hodgson his next Andros Townsend before the winter transfer market closes, according to latest reports.

What's the word?

According to TEAMtalk, Palace are tracking former Tottenham Hotspur right winger Marcus Edwards ahead of a potential switch to Selhurst Park.

However, it's claimed they will face stiff competition from several other Premier League clubs should they try to prise the 22-year-old away from Vitoria de Guimaraes, including Fulham, Southampton and West Ham United, amid interest from Championship clubs Brentford, Bournemouth and Swansea.

The next Townsend?

Edwards has emerged as one of England's hottest prospects over the past couple of years or so but was deemed surplus to requirements during his time at Spurs.

Which, of course, is something that Townsend knows a thing or two about, having fallen out of favour with the club's hierarchy after a row with fitness coach Nathan Gardiner.

The diminutive attacking midfielder decided to try his luck elsewhere and left Spurs for Vitoria de Guimaraes last September. Since then, he has established himself as a first-team regular starter under João Henriques and has helped to propel the Conquerors into the top half of the table.

Valued at £11m via Transfermarkt, in 46 games for Os Vimaranenses, Edwards has scored ten goals and supplied eleven assists in all competitions, which is a pretty impressive return.

Once compared to Lionel Messi by his old boss Mauricio Pochettino, the former England U20 international has bagged once and two assists in just nine appearances in Liga NOS so far this season, whilst the speed demon is averaging 1.1 shots and 2.7 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

By comparison, even Townsend is only managing 1.1 shots and 1.6 dribbles on average per game in the Premier League this season, as per WhoScored.

Hodsgon's current first-choice wide option on the right wing has only contributed to three goals in the Premier League this season, so could probably do with the extra competition to challenge him to play at an acceptable level.

It's fair to say that Townsend is not exactly known for his finishing, which WhoScored lists as one of his glaring weaknesses, so Edwards could come in and add another dimension at the same time as causing a distraction for Eberechi Eze to wreak havoc on the left wing.

AND in other news, Parish masterclass: Crystal Palace struck gold by signing Eberechi Eze from Queens Park Rangers...