Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town are reportedly attempting to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jadan Raymond.
The Wales U21 international is yet to make a senior appearance for the Eagles but Holloway will want to boost his attacking options as he continues to steer the League Two side away from relegation.
Since being appointed at the County Ground in October, the 61-year-old has lifted the Robins from 22nd to 19th in the table and he is now in search of the 21-year-old winger, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.
What would Raymond bring to Swindon?
Despite his lack of senior football, Raymond would provide the Robins with a fresh attacking influence on the wing, which they currently lack.
They have been playing with no widemen recently, instead using a variety of three-at-the-back formations with two or even three strikers, which has seen Harry Smith, Aaron Drinan, Kabongo Tshimanga and Paul Glatzel all feature recently.
However, Holloway may adapt his system to include Raymond on the left or right wing, where he has played most prominently for Palace’s U21s in recent seasons.
In the 2023/24 campaign, he scored three goals and got four assists in 22 appearances across all competitions before his season was cut short in March due to injury.
He also made the bench twice for Palace’s senior team in the Premier League and featured in two of the U21s’ EFL Trophy games against League One sides Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage.
The youngster may be the creative spark needed by the Wiltshire team.
Interest from other clubs
Despite no confirmation of Raymond’s arrival at the League Two side, it appears that Holloway has worked his magic and fought off competition from fellow fourth division outfit Colchester United, as well as Scottish Premiership team Dundee.
The winger had been linked with both sides previously in the transfer window but those rumours did not lead to anything.
Since then, Colchester have signed attacker Tyreece Simpson on loan from Stevenage so appear to have turned their attention away from Raymond.
How will the move help the youngster’s development?
Raymond is highly-rated by Palace and will be in their first-team plans for the future. However, at the moment he needs regular playing time in senior football, which is why a move to the Robins would benefit his career.
The guidance of Holloway, who has managed over 1,000 professional games, will be a big factor in Palace’s decision to send the youngster out on loan.
He will be able to use his experience to nurture the youngster in his first spell in senior football, which should allow him to flourish and return to the Premier League side as a better player.
Raymond’s lack of appearances for the Palace first team this season suggests that he is behind fellow young prospect Justin Devenny in manager Oliver Glasner’s plans.
The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international has made 12 appearances this season and scored once for the Eagles.
The recent arrival of winger Romain Esse will have also demoted Raymond in the pecking order.
The 19-year-old joined from fellow south London club Millwall last week for a reported £14.5 million and is set to feature immediately for the top-flight side.
If Raymond impresses in League Two for Swindon, his hopes of first-team football at Palace next season should be more promising, or he may earn himself a short-term move to the Championship or League One.
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