July 14 2004

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie will bring in at least three more signings before the season kicks off on August 14, but Millwall midfielder Tim Cahill is unlikely to be one of them, by Joseph O'Shea.

The 39-year-old Eagles boss took a squad of 22 players, including three new signings to Northern Ireland for a pre-season tour on Sunday, but the squad included four youngsters who have yet to make a first team start.

Dowie said last week: "I would want a squad of 22 or 23 and maybe three or four kids."

Four signings in the space of week have bolstered the squad, with Julian Speroni and Joonas Kolkka filling the problematic goalkeeping and left wing positions, but Dowie desperately wants a goal-scoring midfielder, a big striker and another goalkeeper.

Chairman Simon Jordan’s refusal to pay £125,000 commission to Tim Cahill’s representatives SFX scuppered the 24-year-old’s £2million transfer last week. Palace went through the whole of last season without paying any agency fees, and have looked to maintain that prudence this summer.

Jordan said: "I told him (agent Paul Martin) he doesn't work for me but for the player, and to take the money out of his wages."

SFX claim the personal terms did not appeal to the Australian international, who will probably opt to see out the remaining year of his contract at the New Den and leave on a lucrative free transfer next summer.

SFX chief operating officer Sam Rush, told the Guardian: "Any suggestion that the deal fell down as a result of the agency fee is simply untrue. The fact is the deal broke down because the personal terms on offer were not acceptable to Tim Cahill. He is contracted to Millwall for another year and he’s still a Millwall player."

Jordan still hopes Cahill will have a change of heart, and he is promising to spend big to help his manager keep Palace in the Premiership, if the right players become available.

He reportedly said: "If a player costs £3million or £4million we will pay that, rest assured.

"In fact we have three international players with Champions League experience that I hope will agree to join us very soon."

One of those targets, Kolkka signed on Tuesday, and there should be further arrivals this week.

Hungarian international striker Sandor Torghelle, 22, is expected to complete a cut-price move from MTK Budapest this week, after Palace were made aware of an escape clause in his contract.

His club initially accepted a £1.5million fee, but Palace are now likely to pay less than £1million for the striker, who scored two goals against Germany before Euro 04, and played against Celtic in his club's Champions League qualifier defeat last season.

If that deal falls through then Palace may pursue their interest in Aston Villa’s Swedish international striker Marcus Allback, 31, while Manchester united winger Keiran Richardson, 19, who has Champions League experience as a substitute, is being linked with a one-year loan deal.

Hungarian international keeper Gabor Kiraly, 28, who has played in the Champions League with Hertha Berlin, may be snapped up on a free transfer to compete with Speroni for the number one jersey.

If Kiraly fails to win a contract, Dowie may move for Sunderland second choice Thomas Myhre, who spent three months on loan at Palace last season and is available as the Black Cats look to reduce their wage bill.

Dowie said: "I am looking for two number ones. I want there to be competition, it's important, because it's a big position."