CRYSTAL PALACE are preparing to spend big in the summer to reboot their long-term plan after sacking Patrick Vieira.
The Eagles axed Vieira last month in their bid to beat the drop and turned back to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson.
Vieira had replaced Hodgson in 2021 as they looked to move to the new level, investing in a number of younger more attacking players.
After a successful first season, including an FA Cup semi-final, Vieira failed to kick on in South London and Palace are preparing another push this summer.
There have been tensions in the boardroom over the level of spending in recent windows, with some feeling more should have been done to help Vieira in January.
However, there is a feeling everyone is close to being on the same page ahead of the summer.
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And while there is also a new manager to appoint, with Hodgson currently in the gig until the end of the season, a list of targets are being drawn up.
The Eagles are keen to bring in new faces along the entire back four, to cover and compete with their existing options.
Academy product Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who joined Manchester United in 2019, is a target while Palace are braced for interest in England international Marc Guehi.
Sporting director Dougie Freedman also wants to add more options in midfield, with a No8 high on their list, as the quest to replace last season’s player of the year, Conor Gallagher, continues.
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The Chelsea man, who shone on loan at Selhurst Park last season, is likely to be available this summer with the Blues in need of a clearout, but Palace will face huge competition.
With Wilfried Zaha’s future still up in the air and his contract running out in the summer, a winger will also be needed before the new campaign, while any manager will also want a striker added.
Hodgson has managed to get Palace firing once again but the lack of a clinical striker hurt Vieira as well as the current boss during his first spell at the club.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
