Former Crystal Palace midfielder Simon Osborn believes that his former club made a major statement of intent – long before they appointed Frank de Boer as their new manager.

At the tail end of May, the Eagles tied star winger Wilfried Zaha down to a new five-year contract, pouring hot water on Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to prise away the Ivory Coast – and two-time England – international.

The 24-year-old was named Palace’s player of the season last term after a fruitful campaign that saw him score seven goals and lay on nine assists.

Osborn, who made 55 appearances for Palace and helped the club win the First Division in the 1993-94 season, reckons that his old employers may have pulled off their best business of the summer already.

“It’s intent – and he had another fantastic season last year,” said the 45-year-old, who also had spells with Wolves and Walsall.

(Michael Steele /Allsport)

“People have always questioned him for being a bit hit-and-miss but his consistency last season was fantastic.

“Steve Parish [Palace chairman] wasn’t afraid to put his hand in his pocket to give Wilfried a new deal but we also saw that last year with the Tottenham interest.

“They [Palace] will have their targets now. It will be interesting. I expect the club to have a good summer.”

Leicester City’s new recruit Vicente Iborra says the club’s ambition was a key factor in persuading him to join from Sevilla.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who helped Sevilla win three successive Europa League titles, has signed a four-year deal and joins for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £10.5m.

Iborra made 172 appearances for Sevilla, scoring 30 goals, and played against the Foxes in both legs of their last 16 Champions League tie last season.

Photo credit: Getty Images

City are now known across the globe following their shock Premier League title in 2016 – and Iborra believes the club are going in the right direction.

“I am very happy for a new experience in football with this team in the Premier League,” said Iborra.

“This season is important for me and Leicester is a team that have been very important in the last few years.

“They’ve become champions and played in the Champions League – I’m very happy because Leicester is an important and ambitious project – I’m very interested in the direction of this Club.

“I played here with Sevilla in the Champions League and the atmosphere of the stadium with the supporters was very nice, I like this atmosphere.

“The Premier League is a competitive league and for me I like to play games against new teams and players, for me and Leicester, the new season is going to be really interesting.”

Pablo Zabaleta is enjoying life with his new teammates at West Ham and says he’s raring to go ahead of the new Premier League season.

The summer arrival from Man City kicked-off pre-season training in Essex this week, ahead of the Hammers’ training camp in Austria and their season curtain-raiser at Manchester United on 12 August.

Zabaleta, who will wear the No5 shirt this season, is also looking forward to West Ham’s pre-season fixture against his former employers Manchester City.

(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“We will play a few games, including an interesting game against Manchester City which is our final game before we start the Premier League, so it will be a good test for us,” said Zabaleta.

“I can’t wait for the start of the season now, it’s all about hard work and preparation and we are all focused on the fitness level and building up to be 100 per cent by the start of the season.

“My first day was fantastic, I’m so pleased to be here and I said to some of the lads that I’d never been in weather like that before in pre-season in Manchester!

“That was the first time I met Slaven [in person], as I had spoken to him a few times by phone.

“I said the same thing to him that I said to you, that I am happy to be part of this football club and this squad.”

Jesse Lingard cannot wait to return to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California later this month where Manchester United will meet Real Madrid in a pre-season tour match.

The 24-year-old got a goal when the Red Devils met Barcelona at the same stadium two years ago and is now preparing to face the reigning La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners.

The match is a dress rehearsal for the UEFA Super Cup, which takes place in Macedonia on August 8, and Lingard is excited for another chance to tour with the United squad.

“We’re used to playing top teams in pre-season, such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, and it’s always a good experience,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can perform well in those games and take good form into the new season.

(Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

“Every tour game is important, even if it’s just to build match fitness, and it’s good that everyone can get a run out and get a taste of what it’s like and take that forward.

“This year, I’m most looking forward to the games themselves and building team spirit with the lads.

“Pre-season tours are good for bonding with each other, and in our free time there’s the chance to go out and explore.”

Retired Casper Ankergren is settling in well to his new role as assistant first-team goalkeeping coach describing the move into coaching as a ‘perfect transition’.

Ankergren made 77 appearances for the Seagulls over seven seasons at the Amex before hanging up his playing boots at the end of last season.

And the 37-year-old Danish international admitted that the opportunity to continue being around the squad and regularly involved in training was a major draw in his new career.

He said: “I’m Ben Roberts’ assistant and he’s already given me jobs that I need to look into; besides that I can learn a lot from him. It’s going to be a very interesting year for me.

“It’s a really good chance for me to see what’s going on from the coaching side of things, but still be on the training pitch when I am needed.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“I haven’t played that many games over the last couple of years, but I love training and being in and around the boys. For me, it’s a perfect transition.

“I try to be a good role model for them and be a person they can come to if they need anything. I will do all I can to help them and I’ve already done that.

“For me, it’s now all about being the best-possible goalkeeping coach I can be.”

Alexandre Lacazette may have become Arsenal’s most expensive signing but Gunners could have to thank one of their midfielders for making the deal happen.

The Frenchman joined for a reported £52 million from Lyon as Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his side ahead of next season.

The Arsenal boss has been trying to lure the clinical striker to the Emirates for a number of seasons but may have got the deal over the line this summer thanks to one of his destructive midfielders.

Francis Coquelin played with Lacazette in the European U19 tournament in 2010 and Arsenal’s latest signing revealed the defensive midfielder had made contact with him before his move.

Photo credit: Getty Images

He said: “Francis and I kept in touch after that. We’ve had a lot of contact over the last few years and even more over the last few weeks, of course, since it became increasingly likely that I would come to Arsenal.

“He has said only good things about Arsenal, which is not surprising because he wanted me to join the club. Even without that I still really wanted to come here.

“He stressed that it was a great club located in a fantastic city. He said I would not regret my decision to move here because of the people I’d be working with and, of course, the fans.”

New signing Josef Yarney is hoping to replicate the success of fellow defender Stuart Findlay with a first-team start in his first season at Newcastle United.

Findlay joined the Magpies from Celtic last summer before making his debut against Birmingham City in the FA Cup in January.

Yarney, 20, has agreed to move to St James’ Park having been a triallist with the Under-23s in April and came on as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough.

Now the former Everton defender is targeting a breakthrough year in the Premier League

“It’s a great incentive. To make your debut within six months – it’s something to look towards,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens – I’m going to work hard, and we’ll see where that takes me.

(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

“I came up in mid-April and had a look at the club. I did a bit of training, played in the Boro game, and it felt good. Two months down the line, I’ve signed, and I’m looking forward to getting going.

“I had a couple of other offers, but nothing compared to this one – it’s the club, really, that made me come here.

“It’s a great club – a massive club – and they’re back in the Premier League, which was a brilliant thing to achieve.”

Ilkay Gundogan may be cutting a lonely figure at the Manchester City training ground at the moment but he’s optimistic he’ll be right in the mix come the start of the season.

The German international scored three league goals in his ten appearances for City last season before suffering knee ligament damage in December.

The 26-year-old returned to Manchester two weeks ahead of the rest of the City squad and is looking forward to getting involved with team training once more.

“Training is going well. I’m training hard but it’s not easy being here on my own. Nobody else is here because I started two weeks earlier than the team and I know it is necessary,” said the midfielder.

“I still have to do a lot of work until I’m back but I’m ready and working hard, so I’m in a good way.