Crystal Palace target Alberto Gilardino signs for Serie B side Spezia after being offered to Roy Hodgson’s strugglers
Roy Hodgson's side will have to look elsewhere for forward options as their latest hope signs for an Italian side instead
ALBERTO GILARDINO has opted to sign for Serie B side Spezia rather than Crystal Palace.
The Italian striker was thought to be a short-term fix to solve Palace's dwindling forward options.
Struggling Crystal Palace were keen to secure the Italian forward to solve their crisis up top after failing to score so far in the Premier League this season.
Palace were keen to snap up the free agent on a short-term deal, but he has swapped South London for a coastal city in Northern Italy.
Hodgson's side are short on options with Christian Benteke, Wilfried Zaha and Connor Wickham all suffering with injuries.
The 35-year-old striker has been without a club, since leaving Pescara, but had trials with Canadian team Montreal Impact that did not result in a contract.
He has played for several Italian clubs throughout his career, including AC Milan when they were crowned Champions League winners in 2006-07.
It will be his first time to have played in the second-highest division in the Italian football league system.
Gilardino boasts 57 caps for the Italian national side, he was also part of the World Cup winning squad of 2006.
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After a spell in China, Gilardino returned to his native Italy.
Signing for Spezia will be the 13th team he has played for during his 18 year career.