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Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that the Eagles are close to signing former Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri.

However, he says that the Brazilian will not sign in time to be in the squad to face Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

The 35-year-old has been training with the club over the past week, and Hodgson admits that the club are keen to tie up a deal for the Brazilian to sign on a free transfer, at least until the end of the season.

"He has been very good, and has been with us over a week now," said Hodgson at his pre-match press conference.

"He was released from his club Fluminese and we invited him to come over and do some training with us to see how he was and how he likes us and I am hoping we will reach an agreement with him.

"[Sporting director] Doug Freedman and [chairman] Steve Parish have been working very hard to get that agreement with him to at least keep him here until at least the end of the season and help us out in that way, and I believe they are well advanced in those discussions, but unfortunately not so far advanced that we will have him with us on Sunday."