August 6 2001

Steve Kember

Dean Austin and Steve Kember have urged Palace fans not to worry about the lack of transfer activity so far this summer.

The Eagles have yet to sign a player and have lost Mikael Forssell, who has returned back to Chelsea.

Palace have been linked with a number of players, including John Aloisi, Nathan Blake and Dion Dublin.

Steve Bruce is currently in talks with Middlesbrough's England under-21 striker Andy Campbell after the two clubs agreed a fee of £1m and have American striker Jovan Kirovski on trial.

But Austin has asked supporters to remain patient. He said: "Everybody knows we need two or three players and hopefully the chairman can do something on that front.

"There's always going to be speculation because we've got a new manager and a chairman with some money. That's inevitable.

"We hear stuff all the time, but we've got the base of a good squad here.

"I don't see why we can't go up this year. The squad we had last year vastly underachieved and with a couple of new faces I believe we can be right up there."

First-team coach Steve Kember added: "We haven't managed to get anybody yet but we are in talks with players about a move and we hope to get two of those players in by the end of the week. Watch this space."