Palace hold talks with German defender

Crystal Palace have held talks with Stuttgart about the possibility of signing defender Georg Niedermeier, according to Simon Jones of the Mail.

The 29-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2016, but Palace are hoping to secure a deal to bring him in this January at a knockdown price of £750,000.

The German club are likely to agree to a sale in order to recoup some cash, having paid roughly £2.5m to Bayern Munich to sign him in 2010.

According to the report, Eagles boss Alan Pardew is looking to bring in an experienced defender as 34-year-old Brede Hangeland looks to be coming to the end of his career.

Niedermeier has hardly featured for Stuttgart this season but has started two of their last three Bundesliga games, the latest being a 0-0 draw away to Mainz last weekend.

The 6’2″ defender can start to talk to other clubs in January ahead of a free transfer in the summer, but he is likely to accept a move this winter.