Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Chuba Akpom in this month's transfer window and the Middlesbrough star could be the man to end Patrick Vieira's striking nightmare at Selhurst Park.

According to the Daily Mail this week, Palace, Everton and Southampton are all keen on the 27-year-old forward, who currently tops the goalscoring charts in the Championship after some phenomenal recent form for Michael Carrick's side.

The Riverside outfit currently occupy a playoff spot in the second tier so it could prove difficult to prise the former Arsenal man away this month, although their expected loan addition of Cameron Archer could hand Palace a big boost.

Palace have been reliant on Wilfried Zaha as their only consistent source of goals for too long now and with the Ivorian likely to depart in the summer when his contract expires, it seems clear that the Eagles need some more firepower in their attack.

Vieira's main striking options of Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta boast just five goals between them in the Premier League so far this campaign, while only five teams in the top flight have scored fewer, which suggests that attacking additions are a must in January if Palace are to avoid a relegation fight this season.

Akpom's 13 league goals this term make him an ideal candidate for the Eagles, while his overall play as a striker could definitely benefit Vieira, as he has averaged more shots (2.8) and aerials won (1.6) per game than any of the attacking options at Selhurst Park this season.

Carrick was quick to praise the Englishman's all-round play as well as his finishing ability after he notched a hat-trick in a recent win over Wigan Athletic.

He said: “He’ll get the headlines and rightly so because he’s a huge threat at the moment for us, and is getting his rewards in front of goal.

“But it’s more about his performances and what he brings to the team, his link-up play and taking up clever positions that give other people space.”

Given that no striker at Selhurst Park has hit double figures in the league since Christian Benteke in the 2016/17 campaign, it seems clear that Vieira needs a goalscorer in his side, and Akpom's form this season suggests that he could be the ideal man to end their offensive nightmare.