Crystal Palace are in talks to sign former Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri
Crystal Palace are in talks to sign former Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, Roy Hodgson has confirmed.
Cavalieri, who failed to make a single Premier League appearance during a two year stay at Anfield, has been training with Palace for the past week after being released by former club Fluminese.
The Eagles manager said in his press conference ahead of his side’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday that he is hopeful an agreement can be reached for the 35-year-old Brazilian shot stopper.
“He’s been very good. He’s been with us for just over a week now,” said Hodgson.
“We invited him over to do some training with us, and see how we like him and he likes us. I’m hoping that we will reach an agreement with him.
“Doug Freedman and Steve Parish have been working very hard to get that agreement, to at least stay until the end of the season. I believe they are well advanced in those discussions but unfortunately not so far advanced that he’ll be available for Sunday.”
Palace face Tottenham on Sunday amid a growing list of injury concerns.Hodgson revealed that the Eagles now have as many as 12 players out injured, six of whom he regards as first team players.
Mamadou Sakho was expected to be back in time to face Mauricio Pochettino’s side however he is still feeling a calf injury, while Jeffrey Schlupp, Martin Kelly and Joel Ward could return within two weeks.
But Hodgson did say that Wilfried Zaha is ’way ahead of schedule’ and could return for Crystal Palace sooner than expected.
The Ivorian winger suffered a knee injury in Palace’s 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle earlier this month, sparking fears that he could be out for a significant amount of time, but Hodgson allayed fears of a long term lay-off, and reported that Zaha is progressing back to fitness quickly.
“He is doing very well and is way ahead of schedule. His attitude and desire to get back on the field is quite outstanding, I don’t think I have come across anyone any better in my career than him in that respect,” said Hodgson. “He’s much further forward than we thought he would be but that still means we are looking at several weeks ahead before we can really count on him I think.
“He has already moved much further ahead than we thought, no one thought he would be fit until perhaps several weeks after the international break but now we are bringing that period closer because we think we might get him back early. If we do, great credit to the medical staff, but even greater credit to himself because he is much further forward than medically he should be at this stage.”
