[ad_pod ]

According to The Telegraph, Stoke City will demand a fee in the region of £30m for star goalkeeper Jack Butland this summer with interest in the custodian's services growing as we edge ever closer the transfer window's opening.

The England international is a target for Crystal Palace, who are surely keen to nail down a man between the sticks for the next decade, although they would be foolish to shell out such an extraordinary sum of money for him.

What's the word?

Well, The Telegraph reports that the Potters see Butland as being in the same bracket as Jordan Pickford, whom Everton paid then-Championship side Sunderland an initial £25m in summer 2017.

They understand that the prospect of a return to the Premier League will make it incredibly difficult for them to keep the 26-year-old beyond the summer, although they'll be damned if they don't try their best and slapping an eye-watering price tag on his head will make a switch to the aforementioned clubs highly unlikely.

Having spent frugally in the past three windows, Palace fans can likely expect a summer of minimal recruitment once again unless Zaha is given his dream move - an exit which would land the Eagles with a huge sum to reinvest into the squad. They must do so wisely, though.

Bigger fish to fry

The electric Ivorian is valued at £75m-£80m by Palace, who will surely be adversed to losing him for anything less considering how important he is to them. However, if a top six club matches that massive asking price then the Eagles will have the opportunity to make some big improvements to the team.

What they mustn't do is waste the Zaha millions - with Michy Batshuayi returning to Chelsea at the end of the season and Christian Benteke's future still uncertain, it's clear that, if the Selhurst Park outfit are to spend big on one player, then it should be a striker.

There's some exciting changes happening at Crystal Palace next summer. Find out what in the video below...

It's glaringly obvious that, regardless of the big Belgian's performance away at Arsenal on Sunday, a replacement or at least quality competition is needed for Benteke and Palace will have clearly learned nothing this season if they don't spend the big bucks in that department come the summer.

A top goalkeeper is certainly important, but Palace have bigger fish to fry and should avoid paying anywhere near the asking price for Butland.