Crystal Palace have brought in Emmanuel Adebayor to try and bolster their struggling attack

Crystal Palace have swooped for Emmanuel Adebayor in a bid to boost a faltering strikeforce that has struggled badly for goals in the Premier League this season.

The Eagles are not the only club to spend big in an attempt to boost their fortunes in front of goal in the second half of the season. Bournemouth have signed Benik Afobe and Lewis Grabban, Southampton swooped for Charlie Austin and Chelsea have gambled on a loan deal for Alexandre Pato.

But how is each Premier League forward line shaping up ahead as the season edges towards the run in? Sportsmail takes a look and rates each attack...

Olivier Giroud - 9/10 (32 appearances, 18 goals)

Becoming that striker capable of winning a Premier League title and is now a talisman for Arsenal.

Danny Welbeck - n/a (0 apps, 0 goals)

Injured for the entire season, hoped to be back in the coming months. Dangerous when fit.

Theo Walcott - 7 (25 apps, 5 goals)

Tricky customer but the argument that he does not score enough goals holds weight.

AVERAGE: 8

ASTON VILLA

Rudy Gestede - 5 (26 apps, five goals)

Has had his moments in a Villa shirt - the winner at Bournemouth and equaliser against Leicester. Struggling in a struggling side.

Gabriel Agbonlahor - 2 (10 apps, 0 goals)

Frozen out for the majority of the campaign, hasn’t scored and time with the club is drawing to a close.

Libor Kozak - 1 (5 apps, 0 goals)

Looked to be leaving, then he wasn’t, and could now be off again. Awful against West Brom.

Jordan Ayew - 6 (23 apps, five goals)

A rare bright spot in Aston Villa's season. Regularly looks to be their only player capable of finding the net.

AVERAGE: 3.5 

BOURNEMOUTH

Benik Afobe - 7 (3 apps, 2 goals)

Too early to make any judgments but has started pretty well for Eddie Howe. Could be a force.

Glenn Murray - 6 (19 apps, 4 goals)

Looks a decent signing on the surface and will go down in Cherries folklore for that winner at Chelsea.

Callum Wilson - 6 (7 apps, 5 goals)

So unlucky to be struck down by injury and had been scoring goals up until that point, including a hat-trick at West Ham.

Tokelo Rantie - 3 (6 apps, 0 goals)

Just not impacting on their season.

Lewis Grabban - 6 (2 apps, 0 goals)

Back at Bournemouth for a huge fee with much to prove.

AVERAGE: 5.6

CHELSEA

Diego Costa - 6 (27 apps, 10 goals)

Rediscovering some sort of form now but cannot overlook his tantrums under Jose Mourinho.

Loic Remy - 3 (15 apps, 3 goals)

If ever there was a time to step up this season was it. He hasn’t.

Alexandre Pato - 5 (0 apps, 0 goals)

Sign of the times that Chelsea are taking such a gamble on a man who has not yet lived up to his reputation.

Radamel Falcao - 2 (10 apps, 1 goal)

He’s moaned about lack of games this week. If he’d performed when called upon that might not have been such a problem.

Patrick Bamford - 4 (0 apps, 0 goals)

Definitely something to work with but not deemed good enough for Crystal Palace.

AVERAGE: 4

CRYSTAL PALACE

Emmanuel Adebayor - 5 (0 apps, 0 goals)

Going to go one way or the other - could be a deluge of goals from Adebayor or just drama.

Connor Wickham - 5 (12 apps, 1 goal)

Alan Pardew has faith in Wickham, whose hold-up play is improving. One goal all season though.

Fraizer Campbell - 3 (9 apps, 1 goal)

Just not happened for him this year. Could be off this week.

Dwight Gayle - 3 (10 apps, 4 goals)

Again, should be banging them in - even if the supply is occasionally wayward - but can’t find consistent form.

Marouane Chamakh - 4 (9 apps, 0 goals)

Pardew loves the Moroccan and so do the supporters, he offers something different but not goals.

AVERAGE: 4

Former Tottenham and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer this week

EVERTON

Romelu Lukaku - 8 (29 apps, 19 goals)

Holds this Everton team together in an attacking sense. Well worth the money they splurged.

Arouna Kone - 6 (25 apps, 6 goals)

In and out, can go through spells where he is superb. Equally, Kone can be bafflingly poor.

AVERAGE: 7

LEICESTER CITY

Jamie Vardy - 9 (25 apps, 16 goals)

What a season he’s had. Lively, eye for a goal and never stops running.

Shinji Okazaki - 7 (24 apps, 5 goals)

A very shrewd customer, gets enough goals to justify involvement and harries defenders.

Leonardo Ulloa - 6 (21 apps, 2 goals)

Gives Leicester a different option, can come short or long.

AVERAGE: 7.3

LIVERPOOL

Daniel Sturridge - 5 (6 apps, 4 goals)

When fit one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. He’s never fit.

Christian Benteke - 5 (27 apps, 7 goals)

Has found life tough at Anfield. Has chipped in with a few goals but doesn’t exude confidence.

Danny Ings - 6 (8 apps, 3 goals)

Just started to really hit the ground running after the summer move when injury ruled him out for the season. Something to build on though.

Divock Origi - 5 (16 apps, 4 goals)

Scintillating during that hammering of Southampton in the Capital One Cup. Until then he’d been average and it’s been largely the same after.

Roberto Firmino - 7 (28 apps, 5 goals)

Liverpool’s biggest threat going forward in recent weeks - beginning to kick on.

AVERAGE: 5.6

MANCHESTER CITY

Sergio Aguero - 9 (23 apps, 16 goals)

No better striker in English football. Sensational.

Wilfried Bony - 6 (23 apps, 8 goals)

Can produce and has started to more often, particularly in the Champions League against Borussia Monchengladbach last month.

Kelechi Iheanacho - 7 (17 apps, 5 goals)

A very strong start to life at the top. Winner at Palace and looks to have a bright future.

AVERAGE: 7.3

MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne Rooney - 6 (28 apps, 12 goals)

United fans have been highly critical of Rooney, but where would Louis van Gaal’s side be without his goals?

Anthony Martial - 6 (30 apps, 8 goals)

Record does not reflect the menace he’s shown - a shining light and is still learning the game.

AVERAGE: 6

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Aleksandar Mitrovic - 6 (21 apps, 4 goals)

Already a cult figure at Newcastle. Jury remains out on him though.

Papiss Cisse - 4 (13 apps, 2 goals)

Currently ruled out but has not scored nearly enough goals since he burst onto the Premier League scene.

Emmanuel Riviere - 2 (1 app, 0 goals)

Looked one of the worst buys in Premier League history last year. Back from injury now but hopes not high for him.

Ayoze Perez - 6 (24 apps, 5 goals)

Has that jink Newcastle crave and popped up with a few important goals. Fans still left wanting more.

Ivan Toney - 4 (4 apps, 0 goals)

Came on against Manchester United but 19-year-old likely to go back out on loan.

AVERAGE: 4.4

NORWICH CITY

Dieumerci Mbokani - 5 (16 apps, 4 goals)

A strange one, looks menacing in the air and has nodded in a couple of rousing goals but you always feel there’s more to give.

Steven Naismith - 6 (1 app, 1 goal)

Could well be a super signing, already netting against Liverpool. Wasn’t given a run by Roberto Martinez at Everton.

Cameron Jerome - 5 (24 apps, 3 goals)

Solid central striker and will give you six out of 10 most weeks.

Kyle Lafferty - 4 (3 apps, 1 goal)

Never been able to replicate his international form for clubs and Alex Neil has used the Northern Irishman sparingly.

AVERAGE: 5

SOUTHAMPTON

Graziano Pelle - 6 (23 apps, 9 goals)

Has netted this year but not hit the heights of his first campaign at St Mary’s.

Charlie Austin - 8 (1 app, 1 goal)

A goalscorer who a few other clubs should have snapped him up. Showed that at Old Trafford.

Jay Rodriguez - 6 (12 apps, 3 goals)

Unfair to truly judge after coming back from a horror injury then picking up another long-term knock.

Shane Long - 7 (21 games, 8 goals)

Willing runner, gets enough goals to warrant consistent inclusion.

AVERAGE: 6.75

STOKE CITY

Mame Biram Diouf - 6 (17 apps, 3 goals)

Has suffered this year after learning his mother died in the September Hajj crush.

Peter Crouch - 5 (11 apps, 2 goals)

Not picked as much and slipped down the pecking order.

Joselu - 7 (16 apps, 2 goals)

Has come into his own in recent weeks and looking the real deal.

Bojan - 7 (21 apps, 5 goals)

Magic for the most part, although form has dripped over the last month.

Jon Walters - 7 (24 apps, 7 goals)

Often picked out wide nowadays but can do a job through the middle when called up. Mr Reliable.

AVERAGE: 6.4

SUNDERLAND

Fabio Borini - 3 (15 apps, 2 goals)

Two goals, both in away defeats, is not a good enough return.

Jermain Defoe - 7 (20 apps, 12 goals)

Bailed Sunderland out on a few occasions this term - 12 in 20 in all competitions.

Dame D’Doye - 6 (0 apps, 0 goals)

Signed on loan from Trabzonspor and previously did OK at Hull City.

Steven Fletcher - 3 (18 apps, 4 goals)

Sam Allardyce wants rid and has been poor.

Duncan Watmore - 6 (19 apps, 3 goals)

Going to be a star, gives everything for Sunderland.

AVERAGE: 5

SWANSEA

Bafetimbi Gomis - 4 (23 apps, 6 goals)

Spent most of his season offside and, but for an early purple patch, has found life tough.

Eder - 2 (17 apps, 0 goals)

Seventeen games this season. No goals.

Andre Ayew - 7 (23 apps, 8 goals)

The real spark for Swansea this year and scorer of some vital goals - not least at Everton last weekend.

Marvin Emnes - 3 (3 apps, 1 goal)

Used just once in the Premier League.

AVERAGE: 4

TOTTENHAM

Harry Kane - 8 (31 apps, 16 goals)

Just continuing where he left off - could fire Spurs into the Champions League.

Son Heung-Min - 7 (23 apps, 5 goals)

A favourite with supporters and has operated centrally as well as wide when needed.

Clinton N’Jie - 5 (13 apps, 0 goals)

Needs time and yet to start a Premier League game. Currently injured.

AVERAGE: 6.7

WATFORD

Odion Ighalo - 8 (24 apps, 14 goals)

A sensation. The Iggy Chop is marvellous, his eye for goal clinical.

Troy Deeney - 7 (24 apps, 7 goals)

Terrific foil for Ighalo and has netted a few times himself.

Obbi Oulare - 5 (2 apps, 0 goals)

Not been given the opportunity because of Ighalo and Deeney’s form.

AVERAGE: 6.7

WEST BROM

Salomon Rondon - 4 (25 apps, 4 goals)

Taking his time to get with English football - four goals in all competitions.

Saido Berahino - 4 (19 apps, 4 goals)

Doesn’t want to be at The Hawthorns. Barely playing at The Hawthorns, either.

Victor Anichebe - 4 (6 apps, 0 goals)

Not really used by Tony Pulis during a frustrating stint at West Brom.

Rickie Lambert - 4 (22 apps, 1 goal)

Again, not producing enough for Pulis.

AVERAGE: 4

WEST HAM

Andy Carroll - 6 (15 apps, 3 goals)

When fit looks sharp, but doesn’t spend enough time in claret and blue.

Diafra Sakho - 6 (14 apps, 5 goals)

Injuries are stunting this campaign, Sakho’s time will come again. Will be huge for West Ham in the Olympic Stadium.

Enner Valencia - 7 (11 apps, 5 goals)

Another to have succumb to knocks - missed the season’s first three months - but was brilliant against Manchester City.

Nikica Jelavic - 4 (13 apps, 2 goals)

Just not doing it, used as back-up.

AVERAGE: 5.75