Crystal Palace are heading in the right direction under Patrick Vieira. The Frenchman guided the club to a 12^th place finish in his maiden Premier League campaign last season.

He also guided them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and claimed some big scalps in the league too, defeating Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City during the season.

So far this term, Palace have lost just twice and came close to beating both Liverpool and City and there is a big scope for a top-half finish under the former Arsenal midfielder.

In order to do this, however, he will have to keep the crucial members of his squad, and with Wilfried Zaha being routinely linked with a move away from Selhurst Park and his contract expiring next summer, Vieira faces a big January conundrum.

Could be make or break for Vieira

With his contract status in mind, Palace wanted up to £30m for the winger if he were to move in the summer.

Thankfully, a move didn’t materialise and he remains at the club, for now anyway. There has been a new contract offer put on the table to keep the player at the club beyond next season, but whether he signs it or not remains a different story.

If talks drag on, will Vieira sell in January in order to get a transfer fee, or is his importance to the team beyond any figure and they let him leave for nothing at the end of the season?

It’s a decision most won't envy, but the manager should be doing everything he can to keep Zaha.

Journalist Tom Barclay spoke to GIVEMESPORT regarding the player and said the 29-year-old was “an absolute Palace legend” and his impressive stats during his spell in London justify this high praise.

With 87 goals and 73 assists for Palace in 435 appearances in all competitions, Zaha’s ability and importance is key to the direction Vieira’s side is heading in.

This contract and transfer talk hasn’t seemed to affect him this season, however, with the winger scoring four goals and adding a further assist in just five Premier League matches.

He won the club’s player of the season award in three consecutive seasons and despite the additions of attacking talents such as Odsonne Edouard, Malcolm Ebiowei, and Eberechi Eze in the previous few years, Zaha is still the team's biggest goal threat, netting 15 last season, seven more than anyone else.

Whatever happens, Zaha is an icon at Selhurst Park and the supporters should enjoy him while they have the chance.