Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew expects Dwight Gayle to sign new contract

Dwight Gayle has agreed a new contract to stay at Crystal Palace, manager Alan Pardew said on Tuesday.

The striker - a £4.5m signing from Peterborough - has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park after making just five Premier League starts this season.

Negotiations between the 25-year-old and Palace have been ongoing since November but the forward looks set to sign a two-year-extension to his current deal, which expires at the end of next season.

"I believe (Gayle's) contract is agreed," said Pardew. "If it's signed, I'm not 100 per cent sure. He's a player that scores goals and we've missed him for long periods this season."

Scott Dann, Joel Ward, James McArthur, Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Pape Souare have all recently committed their futures to Palace after signing new contracts.

Pardew is also expected to sign a new deal to remain Palace manager for the long-term but only once the club's Premier League status is secured.

"There's no way I'm going to sign a new contract if we're in danger of relegation," he said. "So I have to wait until mathematically we're safe and then hopefully sign a new contract here.

"Of course I want to stay here. It was just a gentleman's agreement on my part."

Saturday's 1-0 win over Norwich earned Palace their first league victory since December 19 and lifted much of the pressure that had been building on them.

Pardew felt that run owed much to the absence through injury of significant players but Emmanuel Adebayor has returned to fitness and McArthur is expected to be fit to face Manchester United next week, despite previous fears he could miss the remainder of the season.

"Adebayor is now fit, so he's gone into the squad to face Everton on Wednesday," the Palace boss said. "McArthur is very close, he is training with us now. We're hoping he could feature in the Manchester United game, which would be a huge bonus before the semi-final (of the FA Cup against Watford on April 24). We've really missed him.

"Connor Wickham was obviously involved against Norwich and he will be this game, whether he starts or not we'll have to wait and see."

Palace can reach the 40-point mark - considered enough to avoid relegation - with victory when they host Everton.

Asked if a win against Roberto Martinez's side would ensure Palace's Premier League survival, Pardew said: "Yeah, pretty much. It would be very difficult for other teams to catch you at that level."