Crystal Palace boss re-iterates desire to make more additions in summer transfer window

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has not ruled out further signings in the current summer transfer window which closes on September 1.

Five new recruits have arrived in SE25 so far with Sam Johnstone, Chris Richards, Luke Plange, Cheick Doucouré and Malcolm Ebiowei joining and the club strongly linked to Watford’s Ismaila Sarr and former academy product, Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“I don’t know how far we are,” said Vieira in his weekly media conference on Friday when asked about if a sixth signing was due in South London. “Players may want to leave, go on loan because we are in a period where anything can happen.

“When I look at the news, we’ve been linked with a lot of players. It’s difficult and not good for me to mention any other players who are under contract with other teams.

“I’ve always been clear that we are short on numbers, we want to have a couple of more players, we want to improve the squad and then if we identify those players, it may happen, it may not happen because we may not have the resources to make it happen.”

When pushed on a possible return to the Eagles for Wan-Bissaka who joined United in June 2019, Vieira was tight-lipped.

“I don’t have any comment to make,” said the World Cup 1998 winner. “When you play in the Premier League, you’re a good player, regardless which team you play for.”

There was also time to address the annual tradition of whether Wilfried Zaha would leave the club or not.

“What only matters to me, honestly, is how he’s conducting himself every day,” said Vieira about the Ivory Coast international.

“When I look at him again this morning in training [and] the way he played against Liverpool, I see a player who is happy and enjoying the way we play football and he never mentioned that his plan is to leave.”

So does Vieira expect him to stay then?

“I do not even ask myself that question,” said the French manager with a big smile.