July 19 2007

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are set to sign Benfica defender Jose Fonte.

The centre back, 22, will join Palace on a season's loan, with a view to a permanent move, once he passes a medical.

Manager Peter Taylor said: "I'm very hopeful that we've now tied up the Fonte deal. We're confident everything's been agreed and he'll be flying over today [Thursday] for a chat and a medical.

"I'm very excited about this young boy, because I think he's a good centre-half and a good footballer. So I'm looking forward to working with him."

Fonte was loaned out to Benfica's rivals Estrela Amadora last season after struggling to break into the Benfica first team.

Taylor added: "Fonte's a footballing centre-half, but he doesn't mind putting his head where it hurts.So he's a real defender's defender.

"We've hopefully got him for 12 months, with a small loan fee payable to Benfica. Then there'll be a bigger fee to pay after a year, if he likes us and we like him. So we've got the option of making it permanent."