Crystal Palace close in on £8.5million deal for Genk’s Daniel Munoz after he arrives for medical… with the right-back, 27, going on STRIKE from training to push through a move

Crystal Palace are finalising an £8.5million deal for right-back Daniel Munoz from Genk.

The Colombian arrived for a medical on Friday and his deal will include a sell-on clause. 

Munoz went on strike from Genk training in a bid to push through the move, which originally looked as if it would cost £10m.

He is under contract with the Belgian side until the end of the season, with an option for a further 12 months, but is eager to secure a Premier League move. 

The 27-year-old joined Genk from Colombia’s Atletico Nacional four years ago for a modest fee of £4m and has gone to make 150 appearances for the Jupiler Pro League club.

Roy Hodgson could do with Munoz’s contributions at both ends as he comes under increasing scrutiny

He has acquired a reputation as something of a goalscorer, netting seven times this term and eight times last season. 

Roy Hodgson is looking to bolster his defensive options with the club threatened by a potential relegation battle.

The club have only won one of their last 12 matches in all competitions and are now just five points ahead of the relegation zone, having played a game more than 18th-placed Luton. 

While they have conceded 34 in 21 games, the goals have dried up as well.

Palace have only scored 21 league goals this season in the absence of Wilfried Zaha, a record superior only to Burnley and Sheffield United. 

Munoz’s input at both ends could prove useful with Hodgson coming under increasing pressure. 

The idea had been for Hodgson, 76, to see out his contract until the end of the season, but fans raised banners of protest against the board during the 5-0 crushing by Arsenal. 

One read ‘wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions taking us backwards’ while another protested ‘no shared vision, no structured plan’.