The perfect West Ham and Crystal Palace late window transfer switch deal that would benefit both clubs

If only Danny Ings had settled at West Ham as well as his new hairline has on his once-ailing scalp. With every passing week the striker boasts a more luscious mane of locks, and yet his goalscoring woes continue unabashed.

In some respects, this is not Ings' fault. Opportunities have been hard to come by in North London since he arrived from Aston Villa last January, and so far this season, he has been restricted to just 223 minutes of Premier League action. But even given the scarcity of his appearances, the 31-year-old is in possession of a very shoddy return. Across 42 outings, he has registered just three strikes, averaging one every 498 minutes.

Given that he is one of only three out-and-out centre forwards in West Ham's squad - the others being Michail Antonio and the relatively unproven Divin Mubama - it is little wonder that the Hammers are so frequently linked with prospective moves for attacking reinforcements.

One name that has been mentioned regularly in previous transfer windows is that of Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard. The Frenchman, somewhat like Ings, perhaps hasn't quite shown the prowess that many at Selhurst Park would have liked since he signed from Celtic in the summer of 2021. Make no mistake, his contributions in front of goal have been nowhere near as meagre as his West Ham countepart's, but 17 strikes in 79 Premier League games is hardly the definition of electric form.

Nevertheless, Edouard is a valued member of Palace's side, and there are reasons to believe that in the right environment, he could reach even greater heights in English football - or at least, that appears to be the belief of David Moyes and his recruitment team. Given that his contract with Palace does not expire until next summer, however, it could be difficult to prise him away from Selhurst Park anytime soon. Unless, of course, the Eagles could find a replacement to soften the blow of his departure.

This could be where Ings comes in. You see, it is blindingly obvious that the former England international is in need of a fresh start, and while things have not worked out for him at the London Stadium, he could still have plenty to offer the right side. After all, over the course of his career he has amassed 70 goals in 216 Premier League appearances, and that ratio of one strike in every third game or so improves dramatically when his time in East London is removed from the equation.

What he needs, however, is a fresh start. To that end, including him in some kind of player-plus-cash package for Edouard would not only be a smart financial decision from West Ham, but a mercy for Ings himself too. It would be a way of getting him off the books while also bringing down the price of a genuine long-term target who could actively improve the Irons in a notable problem position.

As for Crystal Palace, you suspect that they would be reluctant to lose Edouard any time soon, but it does feel as if his exit has been touted for a while now, and if they are to lose him, where is the harm in bringing in an experienced Premier League striker as a means of going some way towards covering his absence? At the very least, it could be something to think about.