Crystal Palace are still holding talks with winger Andros Townsend as they prepare for life after Roy Hodgson's departure, meaning it is no a foregone conclusion that he will depart Selhurst Park in just over a week's time.

What's the story?

The 29-year-old is one of many first-team players set to become a free agent at the end of the month, with a new manager yet to be appointed at Selhurst Park.

"We're still having brief discussions," Townsend told talkSPORT (as reported by Football.London)."The club have told all of us that there's no decisions being made until a manager has been appointed.

"Since then, Christian Benteke has signed a new deal, so... (laughs). So I don't know. I want to be somewhere on July 1st.

"My agent is in the background now getting as much interest put into an offer, and then I'll sit down with my agent, and around July 1st (we'll) see which one is the best for me at this time in my career."

Fans will be buzzing

Although the £6.3m-rated Townsend hasn't set the world alight since arriving in south London back in 2016, bagging just 16 goals in 185 appearances for the Eagles, he was still an instrumental figure last season.

The former England international's haul of five Premier League assists was only bettered by the highly-rated Eberechi Eze, while the pair’s 1.1 shots per league game were the joint-third highest totals.

Townsend's tally of 1.2 key passes per league game was only bettered by Eze, while his 1.3 dribbles was the fourth-highest total amongst his teammates.

However, supplying a constant stream of quality crosses is where Townsend really excels. He recorded 1.6 crosses per league match throughout 2020/21, far more than any of his Palace colleagues, as per WhoScored.

His impressive performances once saw former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas describe the direct forward as a “fearless player” who can “drive forward and produce great link-up play” which is a set of attributes that could come in handy for whoever fills the vacancy at Selhurst Park and the news that he is still not guaranteed to be leaving Palace should be music to the ears of the club's fans.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre is the current favourite to replace Hodgson at the capital club and the 63-year-old, along with the club's supporters, will likely be buzzing that the prospect of Townsend committing his future to Palace isn't off the table.

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