June 25 2004

Crystal Palace

Dundee have acepted Crystal Palace's £750,000 bid for goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

Palace beat off competition from Portsmouth to land the Argentinian, who was a revelation at Dens Park last season.

Dundee are in administration and are keen to cash in on Speroni, while Palace boss Iain Dowie needs a first-choice stopper.

Nico Vaesen returned to Birmingham from his loan spell after helping the Eagles in their promotion run-in, leaving Palace short in keepers.

Speroni will negotiate terms once he returns from his holiday in South America. He said: “I have not yet signed but if everything goes through it will be a dream come true to play in the Premiership."

Dundee manager Jim Duffy said: "We have accepted Palace’s offer and whether or not the deal goes through is now down to Julian.

"Because he is in Argentina, I am not exactly sure when it will be complete, but he had to be back in this country next week anyway because he was due to start pre-season training a week on Saturday.

"I am sad that it looks like we are losing him, but he is a very good goalkeeper and I am pleased for him that he is getting the chance to play at that level."