Iain Dowie hopes to persuade Palace starlet Wayne Routledge to remain at Selhurst Park, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
The north London club made a £3m transfer-deadline day bid for the 19-year-old in August, and Routledge has since stalled over siging an extension to his contract which runs out at the end of the season.
But Dowie is keen for the England U-19 international to stay with the Eagles and continue his football education.
"I'm mindful of the fact when big clubs come knocking for young players it's head-turning," said Dowie.
"But his development is very important and I think he should have a few more years here yet before he makes that next step, if indeed he does. We're hopeful of sorting something out.
"I'm in the business of building a team, not dismantling one, and Wayne's one of the fundamental building blocks of that.
"I haven't found Wayne to be unsettled. I talked to him at the time and since then he's been terrific. I've no issues with him. He's always bright and bubbly."