Patrick Vieira sends clear message to Ebere Eze, Michael Olise suitors amid transfer interest

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has reaffirmed his desire to keep hold of all of his talented young players and warded off any potential suitors they may have.

The Frenchman is enjoying an impressive debut season in the Premier League as a manager, with the Eagles currently sat ninth in the table and into an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley. Palace boast an impressive roster of young players, all with huge potential who have stood out for them over the course of Vieira’s first year in charge.

Summer signings Marc Guehi (21) and Michael Olise (20) have become fan favourites for their performances while players Vieira inherited Ebere Eze (23) and Tyrick Mitchell (22) to a talented pool of young talent tied down to long contracts. For Palace fans, there’s a lot to be excited about.

But, as expected, there have already been rumblings of reported interest in several of Palace’s young stars ahead of the summer transfer window. In his latest pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Vieira was asked this week whether he would be talking to Palace’s sporting director Dougie Freedman about ensuring his promising group of players stuck together in SE25 for as long as possible.

“Our main focus is to finish the season well and then we will have time to build or to talk about what we need to improve,” he said. “But we have those young players and the plan is of course for them to stay as long as they can in the football club.

“They are part of the football club and we want to build something here. We will always try to improve the squad, improve the team, but those young players who are here with us will stay with us. They have a big potential. We know what they are capable of doing.”

Vieira takes his