Crystal Palace are to target a loan or short-term deal for a striker, with Emmanuel Adebayor still their principal option, having grown frustrated at the valuations placed on long-standing targets in the January window.

Interest in Islam Slimani and Khouma Babacar has been deflected by Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina respectively with neither club willing to part with their player, while Chelsea want to retain Loïc Rémy. Palace have been made aware by Wolfsburg that Nicklas Bendtner is available but the only formal contact made with the Denmark international’s representatives has come from a trio of Championship sides, with Hull City leading the way.

That leaves Palace most likely to pursue a six-month deal for Adebayor, who has not played since appearing for Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City last May. The Togolese is a free agent but will still be paid £100,000 a week by Spurs up to the end of June, the expiry date of his contract. It means Tottenham would have to make up any wage package to that amount should the 31-year-old agree lesser terms elsewhere.

The financial hangover from Adebayor’s time at White Hart Lane is a complication to the pursuit of the striker, and Palace play Spurs on Saturday. “We’re still going down the line of Adebayor and a couple of the others mentioned but a few more have come to light,” Alan Pardew said. “Bendtner is available and there’s someone else we are looking at. We’re after someone who can fit into our group and give us a lift. A big player coming in might do that.

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“Bendtner’s name came up, along with a couple of others who have been thrown at us. We’ll try to stay in the loop as to who is available. With some players, doing a permanent transfer can be risky in this window so we’re looking at loan options with a view [to a permanent deal]. That’s probably a better scenario for us.

“The most important part is people remain realistic but what are realistic figures at the moment? Some of those being bandied around for good players but not great players are ridiculous in my opinion. It’s important we keep sensible heads and try and do deals which are right for both clubs.”

Bendtner has grown frustrated with life at Wolfsburg having been used largely from the bench since departing from Arsenal in 2014 on a free transfer. He has scored four goals this season but only once since late August. He still has 18 months to run on his deal at the German club but is eager to return to England. Hull are still favourites to secure his services.

Palace have failed to score in five consecutive league games although they have been hampered by injuries, with Dwight Gayle absent again this weekend, Bakary Sako ruled out until late February with a relapse of a hamstring problem and Yannick Bolasie to miss another month at least.

The Congo forward was involved in a car accident this week and has suffered “minor whiplash”, according to Pardew, though it is the injury sustained at Stoke before Christmas that keeps him on the sidelines.

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Wayne Hennessey will start against Spurs despite making errors in the defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City. The manager was publicly critical of his goalkeeper’s display at the Etihad stadium, when he had been anticipating a positive reaction to the handling error at Villa Park. “He’ll play Saturday,” Pardew said. “He’s battered and bruised. We’ve not let him hide from those mistakes. We’ve made it clear there’s no point burying his head in the sand. He was our player of the month for December but he has to get back to his best. And quickly. He has to show he can cope and do well again.

“Times like this make you as a player. It’s when you get strong. He’s a laid-back character, not one to lay in bed and worry at night too much, but I’ve made him worry. My process has been to get him out of bed and into action. He’s a good guy, an honest guy, and he’s been terrific this year. But it’s a serious business. He’s made a couple of errors, so the spotlight’s on him: he has to respond.”

Palace are to loan their Wales international midfielder Jonathan Williams to MK Dons and Sullay Kaikai back to Shrewsbury Town in League One. “Sullay did well so will probably go back,”Pardew said. “Jonny has missed so much football. I could have him here, putting him on here or there. That might help me and help us, but it’s not helping Jonny.

“He needs to go and play 10, 15 games and get his game back on. He’s not ripped up any trees when he’s been out on loan, and didn’t get enough game time at Nottingham Forest [where he spent the first half of this season].”