January 21 2005

Kit Symons

Crystal Palace assistant manager Kit Symons admitted this week that the Eagles are still in negotiations with various players in the bid to bring in new faces during the transfer window, by Stuart Pink.

As yet there have been no new arrivals at Selhurst Park since the window opened on January 1, and time is running out to capture some much-needed quality to boost Palace's survival hopes.

But the disadvantage of the transfer window is that only a limited number of players are available, which means increased competition for players' signatures.

Symons said: "There are a lot that are ongoing, we've got several fingers in several pies, it's certainly not easy in a lot of ways but we're hopeful of bringing new faces in.

"We've pinpointed certain positions, certain areas and certain players, but obviously all the other clubs are doing the same. It does seem to be the bottom six or seven clubs are all targeting the same sort of players, or in some cases exactly the same players."

Russian striker Dmitri Bulykin is still on trial and played in a specially arranged trial match last week, but whether or not a deal is in place for him is still undecided.

But Symons admitted that the Dinamo Moscow striker has certainly impressed the club's staff since his arrival last week, and remains on trial for the remainder of this week.

Symons said: "He's showed a little bit each day in training and in the trial game. He's obviously an established international footballer, plays for a big club back home, he's clearly got something, whether he's right for us we'll have to sit down and discuss it.

"But he's come over and had a real go, he's thrown himself into it and seems like a great lad."

The future of fellow trialist Martin Djetou seems further clear cut, as the Frenchman is no longer on trial and a deal looks unlikely because of his lack of football over the past year.

Symons could not confirm if there would be any new signings before Saturday's clash with Tottenham at Selhurst Park, but he did reveal that Palace should have a nearly fully fit squad to choose from.

Danny Granville and Michael Hughes return after missing last Saturday's game with Manchester City through suspension and Joonas Kolkka is rated as slightly better than 50/50 to make the clash, but the game has come too early for Aki Riihilahti who is still out with a calf injury.

Gonzalo Sorondo is expected to resume his centreback partnership with Fitz Hall after playing at right back against Spurs, with Emmerson Boyce likely to move to his more familiar left back role. Mikele Leigertwood should retain his defensive midfield role in the absence of Riihilahti.

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary