Friday 15 December 2017 05:27, UK
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is keen to keep midfielder Yohan Cabaye at Selhurst Park.
The France international is in the final months of his contract, having arrived in south London from Paris Saint-Germain for £10m in July 2015.
Palace risk losing him on a free transfer over the summer but Hodgson feels he has improved after a period of inconsistency, leaving the former England boss keen to utilise his talents as they bid to avoid relegation.
"If you say to me would I like Yohan Cabaye to keep working here with me, then of course the answer is 'yes'," Hodgson said ahead of Saturday's lunchtime game away to Leicester, live on Sky Sports.
"I'm a big admirer of his and he's doing a fantastic job.
"But his situation with the club will be discussed with [director of football] Dougie [Freedman] and the chairman [Steve Parish] and then they'll bring me in on the discussion at the appropriate time.
"There's no doubt he's one of the players we have who are bonafide, quality, Premier League players who can keep us in the league, and that group needs assisting by being boosted, not pruning down in any way.
"I'd be surprised if the people who watched us play weren't impressed by his performances in the middle with Luka Milivojevic; they've been very, very good together.
"I'm pretty certain he won't go anywhere this season and at the moment that's the only thing in the forefront of my mind: the 2017/18 season, keeping us in the league.
"I can't allow my energy or my enthusiasm for the job to be dented in any way by thoughts of 2018/19."
Palace have improved markedly under Hodgson and are unbeaten in their last six matches, with two victories and four draws in that run.
Hodgson will be without injured duo Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Joel Ward, meaning Martin Kelly is likely to be recalled for the trip to the King Power Stadium.
But despite currently struggling for defensive options, Hodgson is focused on adding a goalkeeper to his squad, while also adding to the ranks in central midfield and in attack.
"We have only got two goalkeepers in the club, which I don't think is anywhere near enough for Premier League football," he added.
"We saw what happened when Wayne Hennessey had a back spasm the other day [during the warm-up] at West Brom [and had to be replaced in the team by Julian Speroni].
"We have only got one recognised centre-forward at the club in Christian Benteke, because Bakary Sako was signed as a winger.
"In central midfield we don't have enough cover, and with Luka Milivojevic out, we find ourselves shorter there.
"Those are three areas we would like to strengthen and cover."
Watch Leicester v Crystal Palace on Saturday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Mix from 11:30am.
