Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson has insisted he wants to stay at Selhurst Park despite rumoured interest from Norwich City. The England Under-21 international has endured a troubled season under manager Peter Taylor prompting speculation that the Eagles may be willing to let him go in the summer.

Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson has insisted he wants to stay at Selhurst Park despite rumoured interest from Norwich City.

The England Under-21 international has endured a troubled season under manager Peter Taylor prompting speculation that the Eagles may be willing to let him go in the summer.

However, Watson, who has failed to hold down a regular first team place at Palace this season, said he is happy to stay in South London and fight for his place.

“I'm happy here,” said the 21-year-old. “I don't know if there's any truth in the story. I want to stay but it's not up to me. My aim is to come back for pre-season on July 1 and get into Crystal Palace's first-team.”

Canaries fans will remember Watson as the architect of a 4-1 drubbing at Selhurst Park in the 2005/06 season when he produced man-of-the-match display and got on the scoresheet in a convincing win.

A number of Premiership clubs including Bolton were looking at the player although Watson's stock has declined this season.

Should Taylor deem Watson surplus to requirements then it is understood that a fee of around £1.5m would be enough to secure his services.

This time last week such a fee would have been thought to have been well out of Norwich's reach but the arrival of the Turners onto the City board could mean that Grant will have more financial clout in the transfer market.