One to watch for Crystal Palace: Wilfried Zaha

In Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace have a speedster with dancing feet who, on his day, can rip apart the stoutest of defences.

The club is expected to confirm Dutch legend Frank de Boer as manager in the coming days, and have promised any new boss funds to spend in the transfer window.

However, chairman Steve Parish and the Palace powers-that-be have already done their best bit of business by tying down the Croydon ace to a new long-term deal.

Interest in 24-year-old Zaha was high after an outstanding 2016-17 campaign, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly lining up a substantial bid to lure the winger away from Selhurst Park.

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He was a consistent bright spot in a season which nearly saw the Eagles relegated to the Championship, before their form picked up in the second half of the season under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce resigned at the end of the campaign, and the sharks were circling around SE25, looking to prize Zaha from the clutches of his hometown club.

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But Zaha knows only too well how a move to a bigger club does not always work out, with his £15 million switch to Manchester United in 2013 a chapter in his career he would rather forget.

He therefore opted to remain at Palace this time, a move received with unbridled joy by the Holmesdale End faithful.

Zaha can play on either wing and his pace and close-control also make him an effective weapon through the middle if needed.

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One criticism levelled at Zaha in the past was his lack of end product, specifically goals.

But last season, Palace’s player of the year enjoyed his most fruitful spell in front of goal, netting seven times, as well as bagging nine assists.

He is now an established international after switching allegiances from England to Ivory Coast, the country of his birth, after becoming frustrated at not being called up for the Three Lions.

He has impressed in his handful of appearances for the Elephants, scoring twice in seven appearances.

A top-ten finish for the Eagles next season would be an achievement, and if they are to establish themselves as a club gunning for European football, Zaha is likely to be at the heartbeat of it all.