Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini is a transfer target for Crystal Palace, confirms Alan Pardew

In the frame: Mathieu Flamini
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Sam Long7 September 2016

Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has emerged as a transfer target for Crystal Palace, Alan Pardew has confirmed.

The Frenchman is a free agent, having left Arsene Wenger's side at the end of last season.

Flamini boasts a wealth of experience after forming a key part of the Gunners' midfield earlier in his career and Pardew believes the 32-year-old would represent a shrewd addition.

"Yes, there is scope to bring in one more into the squad - I did that on purpose as I thought there might be a player we can take who is not under contract, who might just fit what we're doing," Pardew told Sky Sports.

"Mathieu is a player I am looking at, yes. He would give us a bit more experience to winning games.

"I like the fact whenever he played, he played in the big, big games at Arsenal when they needed someone to kind of lead the team over the line and get big results.

"His age, 32, in my mind I signed Teddy Sheringham when he was 38, so the age isn't a problem for me."

Palace are in the market for an additional midfielder after former captain Mile Jedinak joined Championship club Aston Villa in the summer.

However, although Pardew is undeterred by Flamini's age he fears the Eagles could miss out on the midfielder's signature due to other interested parties just as they did with Jack Wilshere.

"We've had a couple of meetings with Mathieu to talk about what he would do here and how he would feel about competing with (Yohan) Cabaye, (James) McArthur, (Jason) Puncheon, (Jordon) Mutch, Chung (Yong Lee) and (Joe) Ledley.

"I think another one (in midfield) is where I'm going to go with it, but whether it's him or not, I don't know."

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