Roy Hodgson blocks Newcastle move for Andros Townsend

Rafa Benitez is keen to re-sign the winger in this summer's transfer window.

Palace manager Hodgson, however, is adamant that Townsend and Tottenham Hotspur target Wilfried Zaha are staying at Selhurst Park.

"What people seem to forget with Wilf is he has got a four-year contract," Hodgson told football.london. "There is speculation every year around (Lionel) Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo too.

"He is our player for the next four years and the club has got no interest or desire to sell him.

"There can be as much speculation as you like, and (Andros) Townsend is in a similar situation. He's got three years on his contract, and we have no interest at all in selling Andros Townsend.

“I'm not surprised that other clubs would be interested, and there are players at other clubs who aren’t for sale that I wouldn’t mind, but we are not selling players.

“We're not a selling club at the moment, far from it.

"We're working very hard to keep the players we've got, and players of big importance, and (Wilfried) Zaha and Townsend are right up there as players we want to keep.

“And speculation can continue, the fun can continue if people want to read it, but I have no interest in it.”

Newcastle sold Townsend to Palace two years ago in the wake of relegation from the Premier League.

United manager Benitez would consider funding a move for the 26-year-old by selling Matt Ritchie, who is wanted by relegated Stoke City.