In the latest episode of the HLTCO podcast, host Dan Cook discussed how Patrick Vieira is set for a bumper transfer budget in his first transfer window as Crystal Palace manager.
Under Roy Hodgson’s management, the most Palace spent in one transfer window was £20.16 million when they brought in Eberechi Eze last summer (as per Transfermarkt), so Eagles fans would be forgiven for being shocked to hear they could spend big this summer.
Will Patrick Vieira still be Crystal Palace's manager at the end of the season?
Yes
No
Vieira will be looking to replace a lot of the players that were out of contract at the end of last season, with as many as 12 players allowed to walk away as free agents.
Despite having almost a full season behind closed doors, it will surely be music to Palace fans’ ears that they have a decent transfer budget to offer their new manager as the club attempt to avoid another Frank de Boer appointment with Vieira.
The transfer budget was one of the main topics of discussion on the latest episode of HLTCO.
Cook said: “I’m led to believe that the relative shoestring [budget] that we’ve operated on over the last two or three years with Roy Hodgson in charge has enabled us, even [during the pandemic], to have a relatively sizeable transfer kitty for Patrick Vieira.
“Quite clearly the emphasis is going to be on lowering the average age of the squad and getting more youth and enthusiasm into the first team.”
TIF Thoughts on Palace’s transfer budget…
There is logic to Cook’s point, as while Palace decided against spending big under Hodgson, that is in spite of receiving some large sums during that time, namely for the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019.
It could be huge for Palace if Vieira is able to come in and hit the ground running, add some quality additions to the side as well as keeping their talisman Wilfried Zaha – and if that happens, then the Eagles could be pushing for a top-half finish given their perennial mid-table status these days.
They arguably already have some solid players to build a squad around with the likes of Vicente Guaita, Michael Olise, Eze and Zaha, so with a ‘sizeable’ budget, Hodgson has left some great foundations for Vieira to build upon.