Crystal Palace sign Max Meyer but Andre Ayew deal runs into trouble as Roy Hodgson says Wilfried Zaha will stay

The Eagles have signed German international Meyer and insist they'll stand firm on Zaha

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of German international Max Meyer but have run into issues in securing Swansea's versatile attacker Jordan Ayew.

The Ghanaian is expected to leave the Swans in the wake of their relegation to the Championship, with new coach Graham Potter keen to focus on young and hungry players rather than relegated holdovers who don't want to be at the club.

Ayew has attracted interest from Newcastle and Fulham, with the latter having a bid rejected for the player earlier this off-season. But Palace appeared to have stolen a march on their rivals by offering the talented young utility man Jairo Riedewald in exchange.

A deal was agreed in principle with Ayew but Riedewald, who joined Palace from Ajax for around £7m last summer, was reluctant to take the step down into the Championship.

Dougie Freedman, the Eagles' sporting director, is already looking into other possibilities and earlier in the summer had considered Danny Ings and Michail Antonio for the same role.

Palace insisted on Friday that nothing had changed in their position on Wilfried Zaha after a report in the Daily Mirror claimed that the Ivorian international had told teammates he wished to join Chelsea. The 25-year-old winger, who had another outstanding season last year in guiding Palace to safety, has been repeatedly linked with a move away from south London this summer but recently told the club that he has no intention of going. Tottenham, who had a derisory bid of £15m rejected for Zaha two years ago, are not understood to still be pursuing the twinkle-toed forward.

Zaha is expected to remain a Palace player (Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson told talkSPORT that he had spoken to Zaha on Thursday and there was no indication that the player was angling for a move away.

"I spoke to Wilf yesterday and he certainly gave me no indication that he wanted to quit the club. In fact, we were talking about how good the new signings were and how they would help us."

Those new signings are Cheikou Kouyate , who will add some steel to the Eagles' midfield alongside Luka Milivojevic, and Meyer, who arrives as something of a coup on a free transfer after leaving Schalke.

"I feel really good and I'm happy to be here," said Meyer. "I can't wait to start training with the team and I hope I'll have a good season.

"I'm proud to be here and I hope I can make the next step in my career. I want to give my best and I think we can have a good season - maybe better than the last.

"I played at Selhurst Park last season for Schalke and the atmosphere was perfect, and I can't wait to experience the atmosphere for a Premier League game."

Meyer will wear the number 7 shirt that was vacated by Yohan Cabaye, who has joined Al-Nassr.