Erdal Rakip joins Crystal Palace on loan from Benfica

Erdal Rakip joined Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season on Monday.

Rakip, who signed for Benfica on permanent terms from Malmo earlier in January, already boasts four Allsvenskan titles despite being aged just 21. The physical midfielder is a Swedish youth international, but is still eligible for Macedonia, and also has Turkish and Albanian origins.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson may have flicked deep into his address book to pull off this acquisition. Hodgson made a huge imprint on the Swedish game in charge of Malmo between 1985-89, and is noted for his proficiency in a variety of languages thanks to a well-travelled career.

Rakip is the first arrival at Crystal Palace in the January transfer window, but probably not the last. The Eagles are reportedly sighting a £15-million nab of Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar, and are also considering Getafe's Vicente Guaita as their new first-choice goalkeeper.

Hodgson has corrected a disastrous start to the campaign under his predecessor Frank de Boer by lifting the club into 13th place. Crystal Palace plays its 25th league match of the season against West Ham United on Jan. 30.