Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis is targeting a swoop for winger Will Buckley from arch-enemies Brighton to boost the Eagles’ survival bid.
Sunderland had a £1.5million bid for the 24-year-old turned down at the start of the window and Gus Poyet remains interested in signing his former player.
But with Palace seeking attacking reinforcements having yet to bolster their squad in this window, Pulis is hoping to steal a march on their relegation rivals by snatching the former Watford star.
It is understood that a bid of around £2 million could be enough to persuade Brighton boss Oscar Garcia to sell, even though Buckley is happy to stay at The Amex having signed a new contract last January. But he is thought to be open to a move to the Premier League, even if it is to the Seagulls’ deadly rivals.
Buckley has scored just one goal in the Championship this season but is set to return from injury this weekend in the FA Cup fourth round trip to Port Vale. He managed to find the net eight times last season and is the type of direct winger Pulis is looking for, as well as a new centre forward.
If Buckley did make the move up the A23, he would follow in the footsteps of striker Glenn Murray, who joined Palace on a free transfer in 2011 having helped the Seagulls win promotion by scoring 22 goals in League One.
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