OLIVER’S BARMY ABOUT KEY DUO

OLIVER GLASNER is cautiously optimistic Crystal Palace can retain Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze but has not spoken to the influential duo in depth about their future.

Palace are looking to record four straight wins for the first time since 2020 when they face Fulham, although Eze is doubtful after sustaining a knee injury in their win over Newcastle on Wednesday.

Both attackers are likely to attract interest in the summer, with recent reports suggesting the south London side would entertain no less than £60million for either player, both of whom signed contract extensions with the Eagles last year.

Glasner (above) said: “We will see, but yes, of course. (They have) a contract here, first of all and the second is they feel well, otherwise they wouldn’t perform like they did, but it’s not the right moment now.

“I’ve been in football for a very long time and no team in the world can say on April 26 how the squad will be the next season. We don’t know, but we think that they will play for Crystal Palace next season.

“The focus is on winning the games and getting the points and staying in the league first of all and creating a unit, a togetherness, a way of how we want to play, a way of how we want to deal. This is what we were focused on and so I didn’t talk to them, what they plan for next year.”

Eze (above right) and Olise (above, left) have both been hit by injury this season that has limited both their individual minutes and – more severely – their starts together. Combined with the on-fire Jean-philippe Mateta, who has struck four goals in Palace’s last two matches, the Eagles’ recent success has provided an enticing glimpse into how a fitter Palace squad could perform under Glasner next season.

Glasner recently revealed that the club had agreed to set aside discussions around summer business until after the Fulham match.

And when asked about the rumoured minimum bid for his dynamic duo, said: “The chairman is talking about money.

“I’m just talking about sport and the two fantastic football players, two great characters, two great men and this is important for me. Everything else is not for me to discuss.

“If someone is worth 60 million or 100 million or two million or 50, I don’t know. This is the business world and I’m a manager.

“So, for me, what’s important is can they help the team win games? And the answer is yes.”