According to reports in The Daily Mail, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is keen to loan out Jason Puncheon who can still be signed by Championship clubs, Scottish sides and teams abroad, and Celtic must look to bring the 32-year-old in as a short-term replacement for Stuart Armstrong.

What's the word, then?

The Daily Mail says that Hodgson is ready to let the former Southampton man out to play regularly after he struggled for first-team minutes last season despite being the south London outfit's captain.

The attacker has less than a year remaining on his contract and looks to have no future with the Eagles, and should he secure a loan move away it would surely be with a view to a permanent deal being done.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Premiership holders sold Armstrong to Southampton earlier in the summer, but they are yet to sign a replacement for the Scotland international, who was undoubtedly a key player for them given the goals, assists and general threat in the final third he provided.

Why should Celtic sign Puncheon?

Well, if the Bhoys are to see off the challenge of Steven Gerrard's Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race this season, they may well need to add some more quality and experience to their squad following some disappointing performances already this term – including them being knocked out of the Champions League.

While he may be 32 years of age, there is no doubting the talent that Puncheon has and has shown at Premier League level with 23 goals and 25 assists in 193 outings.

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He may no longer be considered good enough to be a starter at Palace, but he would certainly bring something to Celtic in an attacking midfield role in terms of creativity and finishing ability, while the fact that he can play out wide too would also prove to be useful for Brendan Rodgers to give him further depth on the flanks.