December 30 2001

Crystal Palace

Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming is set to sign for Palace on New Year's Eve for £100,000.

An undisclosed fee has been agreed between the two clubs, which will bring the experienced Republic of Ireland defender to South London.

Trevor Francis is hoping to get the deal completed in time for him to be included in the squad to face Gillingham on New Year's Day.

Francis told the official Palace website: "Curtis has had a long and distinguished career and sees this move as an opportunity to seal a place in the Republic of Ireland squad.

"We will be moving fast on Monday so that all the paperwork is complete before the 12 noon deadline to make him available for New Years Day."

Flemming has played 254 times for Middlesbrough, scoring only four times. He recently went on loan to Birmingham, and played in their recent 1-0 victory over the Eagles.