CRYSTAL PALACE want to tie Eberechi Eze down to a new contract to keep the giants of the game away.
Midfield magician Eze is in line for a major pay hike as the Eagles try to keep one of their prize assets — just as they did with Michael Olise.
Palace are likely to offer Eze, 25, about £5million-a-year and even include a fixed release price in his deal.
That would leave the door open for the likes of Manchester City and Barcelona to buy him later in his career.
Eze has grown at Palace since signing from QPR in 2020. He is now in the England squad and is expected to get a cap very soon.
Palace successfully fought off Chelsea to retain midfielder Olise, 21, though his ambitions lie elsewhere in the future.
The France Under-21 star was given a significant lift on his salary and a four-year deal but will also be sold when the right club comes in.
Meanwhile, Palace want to get to the front of the queue for Blackburn midfield sensation Adam Wharton.
Eagles transfer chief Dougie Freedman watched long-term target Wharton, 19, last week and is keen to find an agreement now or for next summer.
Wharton has also been under the gaze of Everton, Brighton and Newcastle — plus Liverpool and Manchester United could also be interested.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
Rovers could be open to a sell-and-loan-back agreement if the money is right.
Palace have young attacker Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as a possible sweetener.
Rak-Sakyi could be allowed out on loan and Blackburn are one of the clubs most interested in him.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and confirmed switches from the world of football
