Thursday 6 November 2014 09:39, UK
Crystal Palace have made strengthening the spine of their team a priority in January and have enquired about Slovenia international defender Gregor Balazic, Sky sources understand.
The 26-year-old centre-half is part of Slovenia's squad for next week's European Qualifier against England at Wembley and his contract at Ukranian side FC Karpaty Lviv expires on December 31.
Balazic would therefore be available on a Bosman free transfer at the turn of the year and he has also attracted interest from Queens Park Rangers.
Palace have won just two of their 10 Premier League games so far under Neil Warnock after a tumultuous summer in which previous manager Tony Pulis left the club because of a dispute over their transfer policy.
We’re already looking to the January window and trying to plan for the future. We want to make sure we stay in the League and try to build the club.
The Eagles have already begun working extensively on their January transfer options and, while stressing the club would not be pushed to break the bank, co-chairman Steve Parish said last month he would back Warnock in the market.
"We feel pretty good about where we are but we’re always looking to improve,” Parish said.
“We’re already looking to the January window and trying to plan for the future. We want to make sure we stay in the League and try to build the club.
"There's money available if we find the right targets. There's value in the market place everywhere if you look at it and you have to find it."
According to Sky sources, Palace have made signing a centre-back, a central midfield-player and a striker paramount when the transfer window re-opens on January 1.
Balazic is a towering central defender who came through the youth ranks at Benfica before making his name in his native country with Gorica.
He moved to Lviv in 2011 where he has made 93 appearances, whilst winning two caps for Slovenia.
