Steve Parish has a lot on his plate at Crystal Palace as we approach the end of the season.
Talks are ongoing with Andoni Iraola as the Eagles audaciously attempt to lure the Bournemouth boss to Selhurst Park, while a transfer target has emerged as Crystal Palace aim to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.
There are also some contracts to sort out. TalkSPORT say Crystal Palace are already in talks with Dean Henderson over a new deal – and Alan Nixon is now claiming on Patreon that Jefferson Lerma has been offered a new contract.
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Crystal Palace want Jefferson Lerma to stay
The Colombia international sees his current terms expire at the end of the season.
Crystal Palace actually hold an option to trigger a 12-month extension clause in that deal, but Nixon claims the Eagles want Lerma to stay for longer than just one more year.
The respected journalist states that the South American is likely to receive a two-year contract extension, potentially three years depending on how talks pan out.
Lerma turns 32 in October and has largely been a squad player under Oliver Glasner, making 16 Premier League starts this season – mainly as an option to provide cover in the centre of defence.
The former Bournemouth star earns £70,000-a-week on his current deal. Nixon does not state whether the man born in El Cerrito will be offered a pay rise.
We have no issues with Lerma sticking around, although we wouldn’t go as far as to offer him a three-year extension.
The Crystal Palace No.8 is a handy player to have when it comes to defending a lead or facing tough opposition, as his aerial dominance and reading of the game are particularly impressive.
However, when Lerma has started in midfield against lesser opposition, he struggles in possession and rarely plays the type of pass that breaks a side down, like Adam Wharton often does.
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Therefore, if he is to remain at Selhurst Park, we feel he should mainly be used in the centre of defence as a backup option behind the likes of Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad.
