Palace’s Routledge deal dilemma

Jim van Wijk

The England U-21 international has produced a string of impressive displays as the Eagles battle to stay in the Premiership.

Routledge is out of contract in the summer, but because of his age would not be available on a free transfer, given he has come through the trainee ranks at Selhurst Park.

Palace boss Iain Dowie hoped his close working relationship with Routledge would convince the 20-year-old to accept their “sizeable” offer of a five-year deal, thought to be worth £12,000 a week.

The London club, though, must decide whether to sell for an acceptable fee this month, with Tottenham reported to be keeping tabs on the player for whom they had an offer of around £3m rejected during the summer, or keep him to help Palace fight to stay in the top flight and let him walk at the end of the season, then seek compensation.