Wilfried Zaha is the key as Frank De Boer looks to bring Ajax template to Crystal Palace

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  • MANAGER

    Frank De Boer

    STAR MAN

    Wilfried Zaha

    LAST SEASON

    14th

    TOP SCORER

    Christian Benteke (15)

    KEY INS

    Jairo Riedewald (Ajax, £8m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea, loan)

    Jairo Riedewald

    Jairo Riedewald

    KEY OUTS

    Steve Mandanda (Marseille, £2.5m), Fraizer Campbell (Hull, free), Mathieu Flamini (free agent), Joe Ledley (free agent), Zeki Fryers (Barnsley, free)

    REASONS TO BE POSITIVE

    An attack-minded Frank De Boer will take his Ajax template and unlock the attacking potential of Zaha, Jason Puncheon and Christian Benteke up front.

    REASONS TO BE PESSIMISTIC

    Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho played a huge role in saving Palace last year and without him the defence looks frail.

    ONE TO WATCH

    Loftus-Cheek. Limited to only six appearances from Chelsea’s bench last season, a loan move to Palace offers the technical but rangey midfielder a chance to prove his worth in the Premier League.

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek

    EXPECTATION

    A mid-table finish in De Boer’s first season without the threat of relegation, building on the Sam Allardyce era.

    REALITY

    May not struggle as much as last year but will be looking over their shoulders in the lower half of the table.

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