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Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer to give young players chance

Frank de Boer is the new Crystal Palace manager
Image: Frank de Boer wants to look at Palace's own ranks before deciding to go into the market again

New Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer will take a good look at the Eagles' "own kitchen" before deciding where to further strengthen the squad.

Chelsea's 21-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was confirmed on Wednesday on a season-long loan as the first arrival following the Dutchman's appointment.

Defender Jairo Riedewald is expected to soon head to Selhurst Park in a £7.5m transfer from De Boer's former club Ajax.

Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen is another reported target, said to be on a loan deal from Barcelona where he has not been able to oust number one Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek takes on Bristol Rovers' Peter Hartley during the EFL second round
Image: Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek arrived on loan as de Boer's first signing

De Boer has been running the rule over the Palace squad at a training camp at St George's Park before stepping up preparations for the pre-season campaign, which kicks off at Maidstone United on Saturday and will include several players from the U23s squad.

De Boer, a graduate of the Ajax academy himself, is determined to bring some of the Eagles' own talent through before splashing out on fresh resources.

"If you want to buy other players, first you have to look in your own kitchen and we have some talented players," De Boer said on the official Crystal Palace website.

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"People [at Palace] are very nice, very helpful and really want to make something good out of it.

Former Dutch international great Frank de Boer poses as he is unveiled as the new manager of Crystal Palace 26/6/17
Image: The former Dutch international took over following Sam Allardyce's sudden departure earlier in the summer

"Also the players, they are giving 100 per cent in every training [session], it is good to work, so I have nothing to complain about right now.

"It is more about getting the [fitness] load into their body, then next week we will go to more shorter games and the intensity getting higher and higher.

"That is our build-up and in between we are hopefully going to modify our system better and better."

Loftus-Cheek will be part of a 25-man squad which heads out to Hong Kong next week to take part in the Premier League Asia Trophy, a tournament which also includes Liverpool, Leicester and West Brom.

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