Palace Boss Alan Pardew Insists There Is No Planned Eagles Swoop for Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic

Alan Pardew has rejected claims that Crystal Palace are eyeing a transfer swoop for Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

The defender has lost his starting berth in Antonio Conte's side this season and, with the Stamford Bridge-based club not set to hand him a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season, Ivanovic had been linked with a move to Selhurst Park.

However, in quotes published by the Sun, Pardew dismissed suggestions that the Eagles were ready to make a bid for the Serbia international, and would instead eye left-back cover in January for Papa Souare, who remains on the sidelines after being involved in a car accident back in September.

Pardew said: There is no interest from us at all (in Ivanovic).

Losing Souare was a blow to us as we haven't got the cover on the left that we would like, and if he doesn't come back soon then that's the only area we might look at.

He's some way from being fit, but he'll be back around the window. We just need to get more action down our left-hand side, just to balance us up some more."

Alan Pardew on reported interest in Branislav Ivanovic:

"No interest at all. That's one of your stories.�

Ouch. pic.twitter.com/0FnN3Ybtu7

Ivanovic has been part of the furniture at Chelsea since completing a £10m January 2008 move from Lokomotiv Moscow, and has accrued 369 appearances in all competitions since then.

The 32-year-old has also lifted nine trophies during his time in London, but has been criticised for a lack of form over the past 12 months and looks set to depart either in January or on a free transfer in the summer, with clubs in Asia and the Middle East reportedly keen on acquiring his services.

Meanwhile, Pardew admitted that his players had been putting in the hard miles in a bid to haul themselves out of another poor run of form.

The Eagles had suffered just one defeat in seven matches before facing West Ham United on October 15 but have lost their last three league encounters, shipping eight goals in the process, and Pardew added that he was hopeful of a change in fortunes when Palace travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley on Saturday.

He said: "We have worked hard on the training ground this week, and we'll see the result of that on Saturday. The clean sheets is something the media can hang around your neck so we need to get that off our backs.

"We are a really good technical team, with a really good spirit, and although we are in this little run I've no doubt we will get out of it."

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