Extending Yohan Cabaye’s contract must be a summer priority for Crystal Palace

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Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye’s contract is set to expire this summer, but reports in the Independent claim Palace are eager to extend the Frenchman’s stay at Selhurst Park.

These are encouraging signs for the Palace faithful, as keeping hold of the influential French international must be a top summer priority in SE25.

The central midfielder joined the Eagles from Paris Saint Germain in 2015 for £10 million, representing the club’s record signing.

And in the following seasons, Cabaye has been excellent in the centre of the park, offering defensive grit along with composed passing.

This season, Cabaye has been one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders, excelling while protecting the Palace back four.

The Frenchman has made the second-most interceptions of any player in the English top flight, recording a remarkable 79 interceptions this season.

Cabaye’s tally is just six behind his compatriot N’Golo Kante, yet the Palace man unfairly gets far less praise for his ability to break up play.

This vital aspect of the Frenchman’s game is what makes him so integral to Crystal Palace’s success; it is clear Roy Hodgson must keep Cabaye at Selhurst Park this summer.

Although there have been questions asked over the midfielder’s age, the 32-year-old can undoubtedly still play at the Premier League level for numerous seasons to come.

Manager Roy Hodgson has publicly applauded Cabaye’s impressive contributions to the club, recognising it may be difficult to keep the Frenchman at Selhurst Park.

“He’s one of the players that we owe a debt of gratitude to this season because without them we wouldn’t be where we are,” Hodgson told the Independent.

“It’ll be a question of how his negotiations go with the club; he’s a really good quality player. He will have other options on the table because players of his quality get offers.”

Yet despite anticipated interest from elsewhere, Crystal Palace must secure Yohan Cabaye’s future and extend the contract of their midfield mainstay.