Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Vicente Guaita from Getafe, with the goalkeeper’s expected arrival to begin what could be a busy month of recruitment for Roy Hodgson’s side.
The former England manager is on the lookout for several new faces in the January transfer window after a series of injuries over the Christmas period left his squad seriously depleted. Having alternated between Julián Speroni and Wayne Hennessey in goal this season, Guaita has been identified as Palace’s main target and they are increasingly confident of signing him having held talks with Getafe this week to discuss an initial fee in the region of £3.5m, with additions should they avoid relegation this season.
Watford have also shown an interest in a player who is out of contract in the summer but it is understood Palace have edged ahead in the race to sign him. The 31-year-old, who began his career at Valencia before joining Getafe in 2014, has enjoyed an outstanding season with his side 11th in La Liga having conceded only 18 goals in as many matches this campaign.
Palace are also attempting to sign another striker to provide back-up to Christian Benteke as Connor Wickham is still not back from a long-term knee injury. They remain interested in Everton’s Oumar Niasse – whose move to Selhurst Park fell through on the final day of the transfer window last August – and have opened talks with Fiorentina over another Senegal international, Khouma Babacar. The 24-year-old also came close to joining Palace last summer, although it is understood there has yet to be a formal offer. West Ham’s Diafra Sakho is another option, with the 28-year-old keen to leave east London having yet to start a Premier League game this season.
After Andros Townsend and Jeffrey Schlupp joined the injury list following Monday’s FA Cup defeat by Brighton, Hodgson is believed to be reluctant to allow Pape Souaré to join Newcastle on loan this month despite interest from Rafael Benítez’s side. The long-term absences of Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann have also increased Palace’s desire to sign another central defender, with initial talks having been held with the French side Lille over their captain, Ibrahim Amadou.
Meanwhile, the Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, has confirmed the future of Scott Arfield remains in doubt with the midfielder yet to sign a new contract. Arfield has six months left on his current deal and is reportedly attracting the attention of a number of the club’s Premier League rivals, including Saturday’s opponents Palace.
Dyche said: “We have had talks with him and he has sat tight on an offer, so we will keep an open mind and see what comes next. Scott knows where it all stands and he knows the club’s situation. He’s been a very, very good player for us and he continues to be.”
David Wagner hopes personal terms can be agreed with Alex Pritchard in time for him to make his debut this weekend.
Huddersfield have agreed an undisclosed fee with Norwich for the former Tottenham midfielder and Wagner has not ruled out adding the player to his squad for Saturday’s home game against West Ham.
“I can confirm that the two have found a solution,” Wagner said. “Now it is all about the personal terms and I am confident.”
Carlos Carvalhal is determined to hold on to his star defender Alfie Mawson, suggesting Swansea would only consider selling the England Under-21 defender if they received an offer in the region of £50m.
Mawson has been heavily linked with Watford and West Ham, while Celtic and Everton are also reportedly interested in the 23-year-old.