Keith Wyness shares Crystal Palace relegation verdict after completed transfer
Crystal Palace have enough quality in their squad to avoid a relegation battle in the Premier League this season.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that there are three established top-flight clubs with "bigger issues" than the Eagles.
The South London outfit are working against a cap of just 70 per cent in terms of SCR after qualifying for the Europa League, and have a new manager in charge in Pierre Sage, who is taking his first steps in English football.
Nevertheless, Wyness believes that Palace already have enough quality in their group to comfortably beat the drop, and pointed towards their recent signing of Dwight McNeil as further evidence of that.
The winger made the switch from Everton as part of a swap deal with Brennan Johnson heading in the opposite direction.
McNeil is one of four new additions at Selhurst Park, alongside the trio of Anan Khalaili, Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Crystal Palace set for season of struggle
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Palace are currently likely to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League this term.
He has tipped Sage's men to endure a season of struggle, as they prepare to balance their Premier League assignments with another continental campaign.
However, speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained that he still expects Palace to be well clear of any genuine relegation trouble.
"I don't think they would classify them going that far down, but I think they might struggle," Wyness said.
"I think bottom half of the table, as opposed to a top-half finish, but I don't see them being relegation candidates. I think they'll be okay in terms of league survival.
"In fact, there are at least three more clubs that have got bigger issues than Palace right now. And I think their pre-season has been quite sensible.
"People like Dwight McNeil bring experience, and they've got some quality there. I think they'll be okay; I don't see them struggling that badly."
What can fans expect from Pierre Sage?
Wyness previously told Football Insider back in June that Sage has been tipped for "great things" in the game by his former club Lens.
He has since been appointed as Palace's new boss, and will have the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Oliver Glasner, who took the club to new heights during his tenure.
Wyness made it clear that he shares a relationship with Lens' owners, and they rated Sage and his managerial ability extremely highly.
The Scottish businessman believes that the Frenchman could follow the likes of Glasner and Andoni Iraola, who have both burst onto the scene in the Premier League in recent years.