Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has been discussing whether or not Vicente Guaita is still in line to join the club this summer.
The experienced goalkeeper is set to complete a free transfer to the Eagles at the end of the season, with his contract at La Liga side Getafe set to expire in June.
Hodgson previously confirmed that Palace had reached a pre-contract agreement with the Spanish shot-stopper, indicating that he’d arrive at Selhurst Park ready for the 2018/19 campaign.
However, reports this month have indicated that Atletico Madrid have joined the race to sign Guaita, with Diego Simeone’s side apparently keen to hijack Palace’s agreement to sign him.
Hodgson, as quoted by Football London, has been discussing these claims from the Spanish media and allayed fears that Guaita would make a U-turn ahead of the impending summer move.
You would have to ask Doug Freedman, who is the one who has done the deal. I, as manager, have very good assurance he has signed a contract with us and will be a Crystal Palace player next year; that is all I know.
But I don’t know anything about this speculation in the Spanish press, because I don’t read Spanish and wouldn’t know the details. I have heard that it has been picked up, but I don’t know any detail.
Palace have been eyeing a new, first-choice goalkeeper for some time now and it seems as though Guaita will still be the man to come in and take up this position.
