Former Crystal Palace captain Geoff Thomas has claimed that winning the FA Cup would help the Eagles attract better players in the summer transfer window.

Palace take on Manchester United in the 2016 final on Saturday night and victory at Wembley would secure the London club a spot in the 2016-17 Europa League.

Thomas, who represented Palace between 1987 and 1993, has claimed that European football would allow Pardew to take the club to the next level.

"It would give Palace European football and that will give Alan Pardew scope to get a different kind of player," Thomas told reporters.

"Leicester have proved it's not all about names. It's about a squad of players wiling to work hard together but European football definitely allows him to go into a different pool of players.

"We've seen in the past sides have got into Europe and struggled because of the extra games but with the money now squads can be big enough that clubs should be able to cope. I think Palace would embrace the experience."

Saturday's clash will be a repeat of the 1990 FA Cup final, when Man United triumphed in a replay. Thomas skippered Palace in both matches.