Patrick Vieira confirms Crystal Palace have identified January transfer targets

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has confirmed that the club have identified who they want to sign in the January transfer market.

The Eagles are yet to complete any deals this January, with Jack Butland and youngsters Killian Phillips and John-Kymani Gordon heading out on loan.

Vieira has made it clear since the start of the season that he would like to add experience and a versatile forward to his squad.

Palace made Jean-Philippe Mateta a permeant signing last January and also signed Luke Plange from Derby County, before loaning the young forward back to Pride Park for the rest of the season.

The only summer signing who has been a regular starter under Vieira this season is midfielder Cheick Doucoure.

“There is an option to improve that side of the game,” said Vieira, when referring to whether the Eagles could improve their goalscoring problems through the transfer market.

“This is a really difficult window to find those players who can improve the squad, and we have managed to identify those players. 

“We have identified the names of those players that we wanted. Now everything is in the hands of the football club to try and make it happen.

“But at the same time, it’s not an easy one – it’s a really difficult and complicated one.

“We are working to try to bring in those players.”

DOUCOURE PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD