Neil Warnock will not be targeting a replacement for Ben Watson should the midfielder complete a £2m move to the Premier League this month.

The 23-year-old is currently discussing personal terms with Middlesbrough after the Teesside club had a bid accepted yesterday, but two more top flight clubs are also understood to have entered the race for this signature.

Warnock refused to name the side’s involved but denied reports they were london duo Fulham and West Ham.

“There is a couple of clubs that have made enquiries and we’ve agreed fees with,” he said.

“I can tell you West Ham and Fulham it is not.

“I don’t know whether Ben is going to speak to anyone else but he is up in Middlesbrough discussing terms now.

“I will be sad personally, I think all the lads will be, he is part of the furniture here but he is going to be a very exciting player.

“I’m pleased for him and the club, especially the chairman.

“We had such a derogatory offer of £500,000 from QPR and early on in the season it was unsettling for Ben.

“£2m is more realistic for someone of Ben’s quality.”

Watson’s departure would leave Palace with Shaun Derry, Neil Danns, John Oster, Nick Carle and Carl Fletcher as experienced midfielders and Warnock does not see himself adding to that number.

He said: “It’s what you get for no money, do you get any better than what we have?

“For me we’ve got Neil Danns who is like a new player, you’ve got Fletcher if he doesn’t go and young James Comley.

“I don’t think we will be able to get anyone on a free transfer any better than that on our wage structure. For me the only chance we have of bringing a player in on decent money is if we sign a striker.“