Report: Crystal Palace’s Vicente Guaita deal could collapse

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Premier League survival hopefuls Crystal Palace had struck a deal to bring Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to Selhurst Park from La Liga.

Vicente Guaita looked certain to be Crystal Palace’s future number one.

The Eagles had been chasing the Getafe shot-stopper all through the January transfer window and, while failing to bring him to Selhurst Park last month, had agreed a deal to see the former Valencia stopper arrive when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Guardian reports.

But it may not be that simple.

Because Marca (27 February, page 3) reported that there is a get-out clause in the pre-contract signed by Guaita, which means that he can turn his back on Crystal Palace if they are relegated from the Premier League this season.

And, despite a remarkable turnaround engineered by Roy Hodgson since the veteran boss replaced Frank de Boer at the start of the campaign, that is still a possibility. It is remarkably tight in the bottom half of the table and Palace are 17th as things stand, above the drop zone on goal difference only.

Real Sociedad looked like muddying the waters further when Mundo Deportivo claimed that Eusebio Sacristan’s side were hoping to bring in a new ‘keeper at the end of the season and had identified Guaita as a potential option.

Palace can breathe a little easier, however, now they have agreed the signing of Miguel Moya from Atletico Madrid.

Nonetheless, there is more riding on Crystal Palace’s survival fight than ever before.