Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson watched Jakob Johansson in action for Sweden during the international break.

AEK Athens midfielder Johansson scored the only goal of a two-legged play-off tie which ended Italy’s World Cup hopes.

Hodgson would have been impressed after watching the 27-year-old give Sweden the crucial one-goal advantage in the first leg.

Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milojevic are Palace’s first-choice central midfielders with James McArthur pushing the pair.

And Johansson, who has made over 100 appearances for AEK Athens, would only add more competition to a strong midfield.

The Eagles are bottom of the Premier League and six points from safety.

Hodgson has won just one league game since replacing Frank de Boer in September and is keen to bring in reinforcements in January.