Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew is ‘quite likely’ to sign a new contract with the club, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

Ayew joined the Eagles on a permanent basis in July 2019 after completing a £2.5 million move from Swansea City following a successful season-long loan in south London.

What is the latest news involving Ayew?

The Ghana international signed a three-year contract worth £35,000-per-week after making his stay at Palace permanent but he could become a free agent next month unless a new deal is agreed.

According to London World, Patrick Vieira’s charges have extended Ayew’s contract by a further year, yet the club have failed to confirm that such an arrangement has taken place.

During his time with Palace, the 30-year-old has often been a divisive figure amongst the supporters due to his lack of productivity in the final third of the pitch.

However, he has remained a regular starter during both Roy Hodgson's and Patrick Vieira’s tenure due to his tactical intelligence and extremely high work rate.

What has Barclay said about Ayew?

When asked if Ayew had put pen to paper on fresh terms, Barclay admitted he wasn’t sure but claimed it’s probable that he will stay put as ‘his qualities are very much appreciated’ by Vieira.

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He told GiveMeSport: “I'm not sure whether that's happened yet, but I think it could be quite likely that Ayew’s deal happens.

“I think he's a funny one; he divides the Palace fanbase quite a bit, but his qualities are very much appreciated by Patrick Vieira.”

Why is Ayew so divisive?

For a forward who has made 133 appearances across all competitions, a return of 15 goals and 10 assists is particularly underwhelming, no matter what his other qualities bring to the team.

Nevertheless, Ayew’s attributes are still extremely valuable to a side such as Palace, who are constantly attempting to punch above their weight and compete with their more affluent rivals.

As per FBref, the versatile ace has ranked in the 96th percentile for tackles, the 93rd for pressures, the 85th for aerial duels won and the 83rd for blocks amongst his positional peers over the last year.

His ability to lead the press from the front effectively and efficiently was crucial as Palace pulled off shock victories over Manchester City and Arsenal this season, further highlighting his importance to the team.