Joel Ward and Scott Dann could accept reduced terms to stay at Crystal Palace with The Athletic reporting talks are under way over new contracts for the veteran defenders.
The Eagles side that kicks off 2021/22 may be unrecognisable from the one that takes on Arsenal at Selhurst Park tomorrow night.
For a start, there may be a new face in the dugout with Paulo Fonseca, Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche mentioned as potential replacements for the 73-year-old Roy Hodgson.
Long-serving players Patrick van Aanholt, Wayne Hennessey, Mamadou Sakho and James McCarthy will be on their way too, while there are also doubts over the future of Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Kelly and a rejuvenated Christian Benteke.
But while Crystal Palace are embracing the opportunity to undergo a major rebuild, two battle-scarred defenders may be sticking around to ease the transition from one era to the next.
The Athletic claims Ward and Dann, a pair of 30-something stoppers with more than 450 Eagles appearances between them, have held talks to extend their stay in south London.
The report adds Ward and Dann will have to accept reduced terms if they want to stay, with pay cuts likely for two players who currently earn £35,000 and £60,000 a week, according to Spotrac.
When Nathan Ferguson recovers from a niggling injury that has wrecked his debut season at Palace, the former West Bromwich Albion youngster is expected to succeed Ward as Crystal Palace’s number one right-back.
The club are also looking at an up-and-coming centre-half to take Dann’s place, with Radu Dragusin and Harry Souttar on their radar.
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